KURRAM: Despite assurances by authorities that they mediated a ceasefire between two warring tribes in Kurram, gunfire erupted again on Sunday in the unstable area that borders Afghanistan.
As of right now, the five-day violence has taken at least 35 lives, according to Kurram District Headquarter Hospital’s medical superintendent, Mir Hassan Jan.
According to Mr. Jan, 166 persons have been hurt during the fighting.
A land dispute last week sparked hostilities between two competing groups from the Boshehra and Maleekhel tribes, and both sides turned to utilizing heavy weaponry to target the locations of the other group.
Other places including Peewar, Tangi, Balishkhel, Khaar Kalay, Maqbal, Kunj Alizai, Para Chamkani, and Karman have also experienced clashes. Locals claimed that Parachinar and Sadda towns had also been hit by rockets and missiles the day before.
After four days of intense efforts to put an end to hostilities, police and the local administration reported on Sunday that a jirga from the districts of Hangu and Orakzai had succeeded in mediating a truce.
According to Deputy Commissioner Javedullah Mahsud, the elders of both factions were talked with by jirga members, who then convinced them to give up their positions and the two sides agreed to a ceasefire.
The official stated that with the assistance of the tribal elders, a ceasefire had been imposed in Boshehra and that attempts were being made to expand it to neighboring regions, where gunfire persisted until late on Sunday night.
Following the ceasefire, police and security forces were sent into Boshehra, although there were still at least three locations in the district where gunfire was heard.
All educational institutions and bazaars were shuttered throughout the weekend due to tensions, and main road traffic was prohibited. Locals reported that the district’s lack of food and medications was a result of the road blockades.
In the meantime, a number of political and religious groups held protests in Islamabad and Parachinar, calling on the government to act quickly to end hostilities.
