Kundi says clashes have claimed 60 lives so far
Tariq Saeed Peshawar
Despite hectic efforts by the authorities there was no letup in the bloody clashes as five more people were killed and 15 injured on Friday in fresh clashes between rival tribes in different areas of Kurram district.
In fact more than a month after warring Kurram tribes agreed on a ceasefire following days of deadly clashes, violence has erupted once again in the region with both the warring tribes using sophisticated weapons inflicting heavy casualties to each other.
The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Governor, Faisal Karim Kundi, has confirmed the death toll reached 60 with scores others injured in the fresh wave of violence. “As many as 60 people have died in Parachinar (the headquarters of Kurram tribal district) and dozens are injured in the fresh spell of clashes,” the Governor told the media on Friday. The educational institutions have been closed for a week period.
The dispute involves two rival tribes who have been fighting over a piece of land. In August, the two sides had reached a two-month ceasefire after the armed clashes resulted in 50 casualties and wounded 226 others. However, bloody clashes re-erupted a week back over the construction of trenches and continued unabated till date.
During the ongoing clashes offensive was launched by the tribes in central Kurram against the tribes in Balishkhel area, which intensified the violence and spread to Pewar, Teri Mangal, KanjAlizai, Maqbal, Para Chamkani, Karman, Sadda, Balishkhel, Sangeena, KharKillay and other areas. Elders belonging to Turi-Bangash tribes have called for immediate action from the authorities to resolve the issue amicably.
Police say that clashes have been reported at various places with the fighting resulting in the closure of the Peshawar-Parachinar road leading to great hardships including a shortage of food items, medicines and fuel for the local population. The Deputy Commissioner Kurram told the media that efforts were underway to bring an end to the ongoing fighting with the help of the Jirga and the tribal elders. DC Javed Ullah Mehsud said that several attempts were made for a ceasefire, and efforts would continue until peace was restored. Meanwhile, separate Jirgas of different tribes were convened that discussed ways and means to affect a ceasefire and restore a lasting peace in the area. The elders warned that if the district administration and other institutions failed to end the clashes, the tribes would take their own measures to restore peace.
