PESHAWAR, Pakistan – Tribal elders, with the support of local authorities in the volatile northwestern region of Pakistan, have successfully mediated a peace agreement between minority Shiite and majority Sunni tribes. This development comes in the aftermath of recent deadly clashes resulting in the loss of at least 130 lives, officials have reported.
The escalation of violence occurred on Nov. 21 when a convoy of vehicles was ambushed by gunmen, resulting in the tragic deaths of 52 individuals, predominantly Shiite Muslims. Initial reports suggest that the dispute was rooted in a conflict over land ownership. Although no specific group has claimed responsibility for the attack, it served as a catalyst for retaliatory assaults by rival factions in Kurram, a district situated in the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province bordering Afghanistan.
The wave of violence continued over the following two months, claiming the lives of over 130 individuals. Despite an eventual agreement between the conflicting parties to observe a ceasefire, underlying tensions persisted, leading to the closure of all access routes to Kurram. The blockade had severe repercussions, hampering the local populace’s ability to access critical resources such as medical aid, food, fuel, education, and employment opportunities.
Mohammed Ali Saif, a spokesperson for the provincial government, informed The Associated Press that a concerted effort to facilitate peace talks in Kurram culminated in success on Wednesday. The negotiations, overseen by tribal elders and supported by local authorities, are poised to reopen the sealed routes to Kurram imminently.
Local elders have highlighted that shortages of essential medications in Kurram’s healthcare facilities have resulted in the deaths of a significant number of patients, particularly children, since the onset of the conflict in November. While independent verification of this claim was not feasible by the AP, governmental agencies have recently initiated the airlift of life-saving drugs to Kurram to address the pressing healthcare needs.
Saif outlined the key provisions of the peace agreement, indicating that both factions have committed to dismantling their military installations within the district and surrendering their weapons to the authorities. Non-compliance with the terms of the agreement would lead to detention under the supervision of the tribal elders who co-signed the accord.
Echoing Saif’s statements, tribal elder Sawab Khan corroborated the successful negotiation and affirmed the specific stipulations of the peace deal to the AP correspondents.
Kurram has a demographic composition where Shiite Muslims hold a significant presence, despite being a minority group within the broader Pakistani population, predominantly Sunni. The region has a history marred by sectarian clashes, with extremist Sunni factions previously targeting Shiite minorities.
