12 more killed in armed clash in Kurram Agency

Kurram: After attempts to stop hostilities through a ceasefire agreement failed in Kurram Agency, fresh armed clashes left 12 people dead and 18 injured, bringing the total number of people killed in the bloody fighting that began last week to 90.

According to a media report, officials said that the latest incidents of indiscriminate firing have taken place in the Upper and Lower Kurram areas.

It is pertinent to note that the recent armed clashes in Kurram Agency began after an attack on a convoy of vehicles in Lower Kurram last week, in which more than 40 people were killed. Later, a ceasefire agreement was reached between the warring parties after the local administration and tribal elders played their roles.

According to an official report, the latest incident of firing took place between Jalme, Chaderiwal, and Talo Kunj villages. Intermittent firing continued in different areas of Lower and Upper Kurram. The warring parties also exchanged bodies and hostages, bringing the total number of deaths in Kurram Agency in a week to 90.

One person was killed in firing in Ghozargari area of ​​Upper Kurram on Thursday, while intermittent firing continued in Ghozargari, Maqbal and Kunj Ali Zai areas.

Basu camp of Frontier Constabulary (FC, 116 Wing) in Upper Kurram was targeted with a mortar shell, injuring two FC personnel.

Kurram District Deputy Commissioner (DC) Javedullah Mehsud, local tribal elders, and police personnel tried to implement the ceasefire in Balishkhel and Sangina by putting white flags on their vehicles, however, after the recent firing, it seems that their efforts for peace and the purpose of deploying police personnel in the affected areas have not been successful.

In Lower Kurram, Assistant Commissioner (AC) Hafeez-ur-Rehman, Superintendent of Police (SP) Jahanzeb, former Member of National Assembly Fakhar Zaman Bangash, Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam (F) Member of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Assembly Riaz Shaheen, Wing Commander, and local elders tried to implement the ceasefire in Kharkale, Marganay-e-China areas, however, their efforts also failed to stop the firing and it continued in Baghan, Alizai, Kharkale, and Balishkhel areas.

A grand jirga comprising the Commissioner of Kohat Division and members of Kohat, Hangu, and Orakzai districts also discussed peace and order on Thursday. A day earlier, the warring parties on both sides had agreed to extend the ceasefire, which was due to end on November 30, by one week.