In the Kurram district of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP), ongoing tribal clashes over a land dispute have resulted in further fatalities and injuries. The conflict, which flared last Friday, has, to date, claimed nine lives and left more than 50 people wounded.
According to reports from local police officials, the dispute, revolving around community land, has led to violent altercations between tribal factions. The district administration, with the support of tribal elders and forces, is currently endeavouring to quell the situation. However, the conflict persists despite their efforts, with two additional lives lost and thirteen others injured.
Attempts at Brokering a Ceasefire
In light of the continuing violence, Federal Minister for Overseas Pakistanis and Human Resource Development, Sajid Hussain Turi, travelled to the tribal district to broker a ceasefire between the battling parties. This comes after a series of violent exchanges which began on Friday when armed members of the Bohshera and Dandar tribes engaged in a firefight over the contentious land, leading to five fatalities and thirty injuries.
Despite initial efforts by the district administration, police, and tribal elders to enforce a ceasefire and vacate the disputed areas, clashes resumed in Khar Killay, Balishkhel, Pewar and Tari Mangal regions of the Kurram tribal district on Sunday. The skirmishes led to further casualties, with one person killed in each area of Tari Mangal, Khar Killay, and Balishkhel, while eight others suffered injuries.
In response to the ongoing violence, Deputy Commissioner Syed Saiful Islam Shah and District Police Officer (DPO) Muhammad Imran stated that they, along with tribal elders, are once again attempting to secure a permanent ceasefire between the conflicting tribes. This includes organizing jirgas, traditional assemblies of leaders, to finally resolve the land dispute and bring peace to the region.
