PESHAWAR, Pakistan — In a significant development, tribal leaders working alongside local officials successfully negotiated a peace agreement on Wednesday between the minority Shiite community and the majority Sunni tribes in the conflict-prone area of northwestern Pakistan. This resolution comes after a series of violent confrontations that resulted in the deaths of at least 130 individuals over the last two months, according to sources.
The unrest escalated on November 21 when armed assailants attacked a convoy, resulting in the loss of 52 lives, predominantly among Shiite Muslims. Initially, the conflict appeared to stem from a dispute over land. However, no group has claimed responsibility for the massacre, which led to a wave of retaliatory violence between the opposing factions in Kurram, a district located in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, adjacent to Afghanistan.
Following the violent clashes, roads leading to Kurram were closed, severely restricting the local population’s access to vital resources such as food, healthcare, and education. Despite an agreement for a ceasefire, tensions remained high, exacerbating the humanitarian situation for residents in the area.
Provincial government spokesperson Mohammed Ali Saif announced that the efforts to attain a peace agreement finally reached fruition on Wednesday. He noted that the tribal elders, in collaboration with local authorities, mediated this arrangement, which is expected to facilitate the reopening of the roads to Kurram.
Tribal leaders indicated that hospitals in Kurram have been facing severe shortages of medicines, which, they claim, has led to the deaths of over 100 patients, predominantly children, since November. However, independent verification of this claim has not been possible. In response to the critical health situation, authorities have been airlifting essential medicines to the region via helicopter in recent weeks.
Under the newly negotiated agreement, both factions have consented to dismantle their military fortifications within the district and surrender their arms to government control. There is a stipulation that any breach of this agreement could lead to the detention of violators, with the tribal elders holding responsibility for ensuring compliance.
Elder Sawab Khan confirmed the specifics of the peace deal, underscoring the collaborative effort towards achieving stability. The Shiite community, while a minority overall in Pakistan, has a significant presence in Kurram. The region has a long history of sectarian strife, with extremist Sunni groups often targeting Shiites.
