PARACHINAR, Sept 11: Rival factions exchanged bodies in the Kurram Agency on Thursday as the political administration decided to start deployment of paramilitary forces in troubled pockets of the area from Friday.

Sources said the warring groups exchanged 10 bodies in Enzari, Bilyameen and Bagzai areas of Lower Kurram on Thursday. They said the Bangash tribe received seven bodies and handed over three bodies to the rival Turi tribe.

Reports said sporadic clashes continued in different parts of Upper and Lower Kurram, but no casualty was reported.

A jirga of tribal elders called on political agent Mohammad Azam Khan in Parachinar and discussed different options to broker a permanent ceasefire in the troubled region.

A member of the jirga told Dawn that the political agent had informed the elders that the Frontier Corps would start deployment in the troubled pockets from Friday.

He said elders had agreed to evacuate armed supporters from bunkers and hilltops and handed them over to the paramilitary forces.

“The ball is now in the administration court. We are ready to cooperate with the authorities to establish the government’s writ in the region,” he said.