Mudassir Rizwan

Despite efforts by the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) government to broker a ceasefire, violence in the Kurram tribal district continues unabated. A recent official delegation announced a seven-day truce between rival tribes, but reports from locals suggest that peace remains elusive. This latest surge in violence was triggered by a brutal attack on a convoy on Thursday that resulted in the deaths of over 40 people. In apparent retaliation, armed attacks on Friday left another 20 individuals dead. As of Monday, locals reported no signs of peace, and the death toll continued to climb.

The ongoing bloodshed in Kurram is a tragic reflection of the deeply rooted tensions that have plagued the region for years. Despite repeated incidents of violence, the state’s response has largely been reactive, stepping in only after devastating loss of life. The recent conflict is reportedly sparked by a land dispute that goes back to July, with deadly clashes also occurring in the previous year. Tensions in Kurram can be traced back even further, to 2007, when violent clashes between tribal groups resulted in thousands of deaths. Yet, despite the long-standing nature of these issues, the state has struggled to offer a lasting solution.

The persistence of violence in Kurram highlights the complexity of the region’s tribal and sectarian conflicts. For any peace to be durable, the underlying causes must be addressed comprehensively and without delay. One of the most pressing factors fuelling the ongoing bloodshed is the presence of terrorist and sectarian groups that exploit local tribal and land disputes to further their own agendas. These malign actors must be neutralised, and decisive action is required to root out militants not only in Kurram but also in surrounding areas. Vigilance is especially critical to ensure that cross-border militants from Afghanistan do not exploit the situation.

Furthermore, the state must guarantee the safety of civilians, especially in terms of travel between cities and towns. Violent groups cannot be allowed to establish ‘no-go areas’ where law enforcement and ordinary citizens are denied access. Ensuring safe thoroughfares is the responsibility of the state, and it must fulfil this obligation. The state’s failure to do so only emboldens violent groups and deepens the sense of insecurity in the region.

Compounding the issue is the handling of the land dispute at the heart of the conflict. While an official land commission has reportedly concluded its findings regarding the dispute, it has refrained from making these conclusions public due to the ‘sectarian sensitivities’ surrounding the issue. This lack of transparency is a serious concern, as it prevents the parties involved from reaching a fair and amicable resolution. The findings should be made public, and all sides must be encouraged to engage in dialogue in order to resolve the dispute in a manner that addresses the grievances of all parties involved. Without a transparent process, the root cause of the violence will remain unresolved.

The Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) chief, Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari, has openly criticized the KP administration for its failure to ensure security in Kurram, and rightly so. The state, across its various organs — from the federal and provincial governments to the security establishment — has failed to maintain order and protect the lives of its citizens in Kurram. For decades, the situation in this volatile region has been allowed to fester without any serious attempt at conflict resolution.

The failure to address the deep-seated grievances of the local population has contributed significantly to the ongoing violence. Kurram, like many other conflict-ridden areas in Pakistan, has seen the breakdown of social order, with tribal disputes and sectarian divides further exacerbated by external influences, such as terrorism and militant groups. The government’s response has largely been to rely on military and police action after the fact, but this reactive approach only addresses the symptoms of the violence rather than its causes. This has resulted in a cycle of violence and retaliation, with no end in sight.

For Kurram to experience lasting peace, the state must adopt a more proactive and comprehensive approach. The government should build upon the 2008 accord signed by local tribes in Murree, which was revalidated in 2011, as a framework for peace. This agreement, although not fully implemented, laid out a roadmap for peace in Kurram by addressing the root causes of tribal conflicts and creating mechanisms for dispute resolution. The framework should be revisited, updated, and pursued with renewed commitment, with the involvement of all stakeholders, including local tribes, the provincial government, the security forces, and independent mediators.

The state must also focus on creating economic opportunities in Kurram to address the underlying poverty that often fuels conflict. A robust economic development plan, which includes infrastructure projects, job creation, and social services, would provide an alternative to violence for many young people who see joining militant groups as a means to survival. The government must work closely with local communities to ensure that these development projects are tailored to the specific needs and realities of the region.

Moreover, the state must strengthen its security infrastructure to prevent violent groups from taking control of the region. This includes not only military action but also community policing and the strengthening of local governance structures. The state must also work with Afghanistan to ensure that cross-border militancy is curbed, as militants from across the border frequently exploit local tensions to fuel violence in Kurram.

The lack of effective governance and the failure to address grievances have left the people of Kurram to suffer in a state of constant fear and uncertainty. The state must be prepared to make the difficult but necessary choices to restore order and peace to the region. This requires more than just temporary ceasefires; it demands a long-term, multi-faceted approach that addresses the economic, political, and social dimensions of the conflict.

It is time for the Pakistani state to shift from its current firefighting approach to a strategy of long-term peacebuilding in Kurram. This strategy must involve the local population, address the root causes of violence, and ensure that both tribal and sectarian disputes are resolved in a way that fosters mutual respect and cooperation. Only by taking such a comprehensive approach can the bloodshed in Kurram be brought to an end, and the region can begin to rebuild and recover from the years of violence that have left deep scars on its people.