At least 65 arrested in Pakistan's Kurram district in security crackdown

Security forces have intensified their search operation in the sectarian violence-hit Kurram district of Pakistan, arresting 65 suspected individuals, including alleged militants and their facilitators.

A police official confirmed to Nukta that house-to-house searches have been carried out in four areas of Lower Kurram—Baggan, Charkhel, Mandori, and Ochat—following the February 17 attack on a security convoy.

Authorities also recovered a significant cache of weapons, including rifles, machine guns, Kalashnikovs, ammunition, and looted items such as medicines and essential daily-use goods.

According to the district administration, six families have so far left the area due to the ongoing security operation. A relief camp has been set up in Hangu for displaced families; however, none have relocated to the camp yet.

Provincial Minister Meena Khan Afridi told Nukta that, in addition to the security operation, authorities are also demolishing bunkers to stabilize the area. Out of more than 300 bunkers, 151 have been dismantled so far, with a deadline of March 23 set for removing the remaining ones.

Highway closure worsens hardships

Despite the ongoing security crackdown, the situation in Kurram remains critical. The Tall-Parachinar Road has remained closed since October 12, causing severe hardships for the 400,000 residents of Parachinar.

Gulzar Bangash, a resident of Parachinar, told Nukta that the prolonged road closure has led to severe shortages of food and medicine, forcing local markets to shut down.

“The unavailability of petrol has halted transportation and closed educational institutions. Overseas Pakistanis who were scheduled to travel have seen their visas expire, yet the government seems indifferent to the crisis,” he lamented.

Hameed Hussain, a Member of the National Assembly from Kurram, stated that life in Parachinar remains crippled until the road is fully secured.

“The government claims that food supplies are being transported via convoys, but people cannot access them. How can they reach markets when transportation is shut down due to a fuel shortage?” he questioned.

‘Relief efforts underway’

However, the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government claims that nine convoys comprising 718 vehicles have reached Kurram to ensure the availability of essential supplies. Additionally, 19,000 kilograms of essential medicines have been delivered to address shortages.

So far, provincial government helicopters have carried out 153 flights, providing air transport to 4,000 individuals in the crisis-hit region.

Residents reject evacuation orders

Despite the ongoing security operation, many residents have refused to leave their homes, voicing concerns over targeted actions.

Shahnawaz Khan, a resident of Lower Kurram, rejected the operation, stating, “We stand with the authorities in action against terrorists, but innocent people are being targeted under the guise of this operation, which must stop.”

Khayali Orakzai, another resident, questioned the scope of the operation, claiming, “If the government is serious about restoring peace, the operation should cover the entire Kurram region from Chappri to Parachinar. Otherwise, this seems like a targeted action against the Sunni community.”

Shia, Sunni delegations urge action

Delegations from the Sunni and Shia communities met separately with Advisor to the Chief Minister on Information Barrister Muhammad Ali Saif to discuss the prevailing security situation in Kurram.

Both delegations urged strict action against those disrupting peace, emphasizing that unrest has severely impacted educational, commercial, economic, and social activities.

On their commitment to fully implementing the peace agreement and cooperating with security forces, Barrister Saif assured them, “The government is taking all necessary measures to establish lasting peace, urging both sides to distance themselves from troublemakers and support efforts to neutralize them.”

Despite these efforts, tensions remain high in Kurram, with authorities under pressure to restore order before the situation escalates further.