The fighting in Kurram region has left hundreds dead and the main road leading to it was too dangerous to travel. Residents wishing to visit the main northwestern town of Peshawar and other parts of Pakistan had to cross into Afghanistan to avoid the road. – File Photo

PARACHINAR: Rival Sunni and Shiite communities in a Pakistani region close to the Afghan border have agreed to end a four-year conflict that claimed hundreds of lives, officials said Wednesday.

Taliban militants have reportedly aided the Sunni sect in Kurram region, where the agreement was reached. Tribesmen have also reported that an Afghan militant group blamed for attacks in Afghanistan had cut a deal with the Shiites so they could use Kurram as a staging ground.

It was unclear how the agreement would affect those dynamics. A local Pakistani Taliban commander said he welcomed the deal, but was not involved. He said his fighters would help enforce it - a possible sign they had emerged a strong force after the fighting there.

The fighting in Kurram region has left hundreds dead and the main road leading to it was too dangerous to travel. Residents wishing to visit the main northwestern town of Peshawar and other parts of Pakistan had to cross into Afghanistan to avoid the road.

Waris Khan Afridi, the head of a tribal council, said the two sects had agreed to stop fighting for the benefit of their communities.

Mussadaq Shah, the government's most senior representative in Kurram, confirmed the peace agreement.

On Tuesday, a convoy of cars carrying leaders from both communities as well as government officials traveled the main road to publicize the deal.

''God willing, there will be no more fighting between Shiite and Sunni here in the future,'' Afridi said.

The tribal regions close to Afghanistan are a hotbed of religious militants. The Pakistani army has launched offensives in several areas, and the United States has fired hundreds of missiles at suspected militants.

Local Taliban chief Fazal Saeed told The Associated Press that his fighters supported the deal.

''We will punish all those who would violate this peace deal,'' he said in a telephone interview. – AP

Opinion

Editorial

Judiciary’s SOS
Updated 28 Mar, 2024

Judiciary’s SOS

The ball is now in CJP Isa’s court, and he will feel pressure to take action.
Data protection
28 Mar, 2024

Data protection

WHAT do we want? Data protection laws. When do we want them? Immediately. Without delay, if we are to prevent ...
Selling humans
28 Mar, 2024

Selling humans

HUMAN traders feed off economic distress; they peddle promises of a better life to the impoverished who, mired in...
New terror wave
Updated 27 Mar, 2024

New terror wave

The time has come for decisive government action against militancy.
Development costs
27 Mar, 2024

Development costs

A HEFTY escalation of 30pc in the cost of ongoing federal development schemes is one of the many decisions where the...
Aitchison controversy
Updated 27 Mar, 2024

Aitchison controversy

It is hoped that higher authorities realise that politics and nepotism have no place in schools.