Editorial
Kurram Agency has once again been thrust into the spotlight for all the wrong reasons, as a series of land disputes and sectarian clashes have erupted sporadically since 2023. These ongoing confrontations have tragically resulted in deaths, injuries, and severe shortages of essential supplies during the coldest months of winter. The most recent incident occurred on January 4, 2025, when an attack on Javedullah Mehsud, the Deputy Commissioner of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, disrupted peace efforts aimed at reopening the vital Thal-Parachinar road.
Historically, Kurram has been a region marked by deep-seated conflicts, stemming from its complex past. Originally part of Afghanistan, the area was annexed by the British during the 19th-century Anglo-Afghan wars. The roots of current sectarian violence date back to the 18th century when the Shia Turi tribe migrated to Kurram, sparking tensions with Sunni tribes already residing there. Over the years, territorial disputes, fueled by religious divides, have often led to clashes. During the Soviet occupation of Afghanistan in the 1980s, these tensions were exacerbated as Sunni Mujahideen, supported by Saudi Arabia and extremist groups like al-Qaeda, clashed with the Shia Turi tribe.
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The subsequent ideological split between Saudi-backed Sunni extremists and Iran-supported Shia militias has only deepened the divide, turning land disputes into violent sectarian struggles. These ongoing tensions have been worsened by the influence of the Afghan Taliban and the rise of the Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) in the region.
The response from local and federal authorities has been inadequate, marked by inconsistent peace efforts and a lack of long-term solutions. The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) government in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa has failed to effectively address the root causes of these conflicts, with sporadic military interventions providing little relief. Meanwhile, the federal government has often been absent, unable to bridge the gap between federal and provincial interests.
With Kurram’s population of 700,000, 42% of whom are Shia, the potential for a sectarian civil war is high. It is crucial for the government to address these longstanding issues to prevent further escalation, which could have dire consequences not only for Kurram but for sectarian harmony across the country.
