DI KHAN:
Following the peace deal in the Kurram tribal district, efforts have begun to bring some semblance of normalcy to the volatile region. The elders and tribal representatives who participated in the grand jirga have returned to their respective areas.
According to sources, these elders will inform the local population about the proposed measures agreed upon in the jirga. They will also educate the community about the provisions of the peace agreement and their responsibilities under it.
Once steps are taken to fully implement the peace agreement at the local level, normalcy is expected to resume. The agreement includes measures such as the delivery of weapons and the dismantling of bunkers.
As the rollout begins, roads, trails, markets and local business centers will reopen, marking a significant step towards restoring daily life in the region.
After weeks of discussions, a major milestone for peace was achieved in Kurram with the conclusion of a Grand Jirga held in Kohat when both parties involved in the negotiations signed a peace agreement, marking a crucial step towards stability in the region.
Announcing the development, KP government spokesperson Barrister Muhammad Ali Saif revealed that one of the warring parties had signed the peace agreement a few days ago, while the other party signed it on Wednesday.
Lawyer Saif confirmed that both sides had agreed to surrender their weapons and demolish their bunkers.
He stated that the peace agreement would usher in a “new era of peace and development” for the district, stressing that calm and security would soon be restored to the once restive region.
According to Express News, the three-week long Jirga concluded today under the supervision of Kohat Division Commissioner Moatasim Billah Shah. The agreement means mutual cooperation between the parties, the government and the local administration to ensure lasting peace in Kurram.
As part of the peace agreement, both sides have committed to dismantling private bunkers in Kurram and collecting weapons. Additionally, the government has agreed to open access to Kurram once peace is established.
In a proactive measure, the government plans to set up a 399-member task force to safeguard the routes leading to Kurram. This force will have the task of guaranteeing security in the region.
The formal announcement of the Kurram Peace Agreement will take place at the Governor House in Peshawar, and both sides are bound by the decisions taken during the Apex Committee meetings.
Sources have confirmed that one of the parties had already signed the peace agreement earlier, while the second party requested additional time for consultations and finally signed the agreement.
During the Jirga, it was also decided that the decisions taken during the Apex Committee meeting in Peshawar would be implemented. If any of the parties had any concerns, they were advised to approach the Kohat Commissioner or the Divisional Commissioner so that the government could address the concerns promptly.
The parties had until February 1 to implement the agreement. Within a month, both sides must dismantle their bunkers, previously built for attacks against the other side, and hand over their weapons to the provincial government.
The sources mentioned that the bunkers and weapons will be dismantled and collected under the supervision of the administration. The one-month deadline was set to ensure that neither party claimed there was insufficient time to comply.
The Jirga also discussed what would happen if one side did not hand over its weapons. Just a day earlier, the issue had been debated in the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) Assembly, where members strongly opposed any military operation. However, during the Jirga it was agreed that both sides would hand over their weapons, avoiding the need for an operation.
