Pakistan’s Kurram Demilitarization Discussions Reach An Impasse

Efforts to demilitarize Kurram district and resolve tensions between rival factions have hit a standstill after a grand jirga failed to reach an agreement on the mandatory surrender of heavy weapons, The Express Tribune reported.

The jirga, convened to negotiate a peace deal and reopen critical roads in the region, was held on Saturday in Kurram district. Despite the presence of local tribal elders and Kohat Division Commissioner Moatasim Billah Shah, the discussions yielded no breakthrough due to the absence of key members and unresolved differences.

Sources close to the talks revealed that the peace agreement could not be finalized due to a lack of quorum, as several jirga members were absent from the crucial meeting. “Both parties concur on many points of the agreement, but one party had the reservations over a clause about depositing heavy weapons to the tribal elders,” said a source familiar with the matter.

The deadlock has further delayed progress, with road closure protests in the district now extending into their ninth consecutive day, according to The Express Tribune.

At the heart of the impasse is the condition set by the government requiring both factions to surrender heavy weapons as a prerequisite for reopening vital roads. Authorities reiterated during the jirga that the roads would remain closed unless both sides agreed to hand over their heavy arms to tribal elders.

One faction proposed an alternative solution, suggesting that both sides submit their weapons to the government for safekeeping. However, this proposal failed to gain unanimous approval.

In the meantime, the provincial government has stepped in to mitigate the crisis by introducing a helicopter service to deliver essential supplies, including medicines, across the district. Provincial Health Adviser Ehtesham Ali confirmed that over 16,000 patients have received medical care at the Parachinar DHQ Hospital since December 13, according to The Express Tribune.

Despite these measures, the ongoing blockade has fueled further unrest. Road closures persist in Bagan, while protests in Parachinar continue unabated, with residents braving the harsh winter conditions to demand the reopening of key routes.