PESHAWAR: Elders of both warring parties in Kurram district during a jirga on Wednesday assured authorities about immediately starting the process of voluntary surrender of weapons in connection with implementation of an agreement.

The jirga, which took place at district headquarters Parachinar, was attended by General Officer Commanding 9th Division Kohat Maj Gen Zulfiqar Ali Bhatti, Commissioner Syed Mutasim Balallah Shah and DIG Abbas Majeed Marwat as well as the elders from both sides.

A statement issued here said that officials held detailed discussions with selected tribal elders of the parties there along with the jirga in which the parties assured them to fulfil their national responsibilities in implementation of Kohat Peace Agreement and thanked all government institutions for demolishing about 1,000 bunkers.

In addition to a meeting of Kohat Commissioner and district departments to review social and development activities in the district, visits to different areas will be made.

Commissioner Mutasim Billah Shah expressed the hope that overall situation in Kurram district would further improve and normal life would be fully restored. “God willing, Kurram district will once again become a cradle of peace,” he added.

Military officials said that both sides in Kurram were serious about establishing peace and were trying to make the peace sustainable by utilising all resources.

Kurram district has been in throes of a brutal conflict since the November last year attack on a convoy that left more than 40 people dead. Roads leading to Parachinar remained blocked for more than six months, resulting in shortage of medicines, edibles and other basic necessities in the area.

Earlier towards the end of last month, both the sides of conflict in the district had signed an eight-month peace agreement while a fragile ceasefire was brokered in January this year.

Published in Dawn, April 24th, 2025