Warring Kurram tribes agree on 2-month ceasefire after days of deadly fighting

• Both sides ink 2-month temporary ceasefire accord, says DC.
• Jirga member warns of Rs120m fine over agreement's violation.
• Mohsin Naqvi offers govt's assistance to reach lasting solution.
  

After days of fighting between two tribes in the Kurram district which resulted in dozens of fatalities, the warring factions have finally reached a peace agreement by agreeing on a two-month ceasefire.

The two groups, as per a local police official, have been fighting since last Wednesday when a gunman opened fire at a council negotiating a decades-long dispute over farmland.

Initially, the clashes broke out at Boshera, which later spread to other areas including Peewar, Tangi, Balishkhel, Khaar Killay, Maqbal, Kunj Alizai and Para Chamkani area.

The armed clashes resulted in 50 casualties whereas 226 were wounded due to the use of heavy weapons in the armed clashes between the two groups.

The almost-week-long fighting had caused the main Parachinar-Peshawar road to be closed off which resulted in a complete halt of transportation of goods which has caused a shortage of food items and medicines in Kurram.

Reacting to the situation, the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan had also said the violence has taken a "heavy toll on ordinary citizens" whose movements were curtailed by the violence.

Providing details on the peace accord, Deputy Commissioner Javedullah Mahsud that both factions have inked a two-month temporary ceasefire agreement which will later be followed up by a permanent ceasefire agreement as well.

Noting that the Peshawar-Kurram road will be made safe for travel, jirga member Haji Rehmat Hussain has said that a fine of Rs120 million will be imposed on the violation of the agreement by any party.

Naqvi assures of govt's assistance

Meanwhile, a delegation from Kurram led by member National Assembly Hamid Hussain met Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi in Islamabad with regard to the recent incidents in the district.

During the meeting, the security czar expressed concern over the unfortunate events in Kurram and discussed a comprehensive strategy to prevent such incidents in the future.

Expressing sorrow over the loss of lives, Naqvi called on leading personalities of the area to play a positive role in a lasting solution to this issue and offered all possible assistance from the government in this regard.