Kurrum Clashes: Death toll jumps to 122 after 12 more killed

Kurrum Clashes: On the ninth day of continuous tribal conflicts, firing incidents in various regions of District Kurram killed 12 more lives and injured 17 people.

According to the media reports, despite a recent ceasefire agreement, Kurrum Clashes continue, killing 122 and injuring 168. According to the district government, the main Peshawar-Parachinar highway is closed for the ninth day, impacting daily life and economic activity.

Javedullah Mehsud, Deputy Commissioner of Kurram, said that the road closure had also blocked trade at the Kharlachi-Afghan border, worsening the region’s economic situation. Furthermore, because to the current situation, internet and mobile phone services have been suspended, creating significant challenges for people and limiting their access to communication and crucial services.

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On Thursday, the death toll in the hostilities had risen to 107, with five further deaths and nine injuries recorded despite assurances of a truce agreement. A 10-day truce was reached earlier this week, but occasional violence has rendered it useless. The most recent skirmishes began eight days ago with ambushes on two different convoys escorted by police, killing 52 people on November 21. Since then, violence between the opposing factions has intensified, and police are battling to keep control.

The primary highway shutdown has not only impacted local transit but has also resulted in a complete cessation of trade with Afghanistan, particularly near the Kharlachi border. Meanwhile, the district administration is striving to enforce the cease-fire. Deputy Commissioner Javedullah Mehsud claimed that efforts are underway to secure a truce, with a jirga of elders from Hangu, Orakzai, and Kohat bringing all sides together. “The parties have agreed to the ceasefire, and steps are being taken to stop clashes,” he explained.

The Human Rights Commission of Pakistan recorded 79 deaths in the region between July and October of this year, emphasizing the region’s ongoing insecurity. Previous peacekeeping efforts, including a seven-day truce arranged by provincial officials earlier this month, have failed. A high-level delegation, comprising KP Chief Secretary Nadeem Aslam Chaudhry and IGP Akhtar Hayat Gandapur, negotiated a ceasefire last weekend, but violence erupted shortly after.