Northwest Pakistan province's top committee orders removal of private bunkers, weapons after tribal violence

In Pakistan's northwestern province of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, a top government committee has ordered the removal of private defensive bunkers and heavy weapons from warring sectarian groups in the Kurram district, where recent religious violence has claimed over 100 lives.

The Kurram district, located along the Afghanistan border, has long been a flashpoint for conflicts between Sunni and Shia Muslim communities who have built fortified positions and amassed weapons over years of tension. This disarmament decision by the provincial apex committee - a high-level body comprising federal and provincial leadership - represents a major push to restore peace in this troubled region.

The meeting, chaired by KP Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur, was attended by Federal Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi, KP Chief Secretary Nadeem Aslam Chaudhry, KP Law Minister Aftab Alam, Lieutenant General Omer Ahmed Bukhari, Inspector General of Police Akhtar Hayat Gandapur, and other civil and military officials.

Decisions made

According to a statement from the apex committee, both factions in Kurram will sign an agreement mediated by the government. Under this agreement, the factions will submit a plan voluntary weapons surrender within 15 days. All weapons will be collected and private bunkers demolished by February 1, 2025.

The committee has also emphasized authorities will take strict action against social media accounts promoting sectarian hatred in the region.

Since violence erupted in Kurram on November 21 when attackers targeted a passenger convoy, killing 43 people, incoming and outgoing transport has remained closed since then, causing shortages of food and medicine in the area.

The apex committee also decided to unblock roads in Kurram temporarily from time to time. "For safe movement of convoys, police and Frontier Corps will jointly provide security whereas provincial and federal governments will provide helicopter(s) for air transport on an emergency basis to support these efforts," the joint statement reads.

The committee urged political parties to refrain from making statements that suggest disagreement between provincial and federal governments on the issue.

Conditions for peace

The joint statement also suggested possible temporary displacement. "In order to protect the lives and property of the people, temporary evacuation may be done from some areas, for which the people of the areas should cooperate with the government in evicting the miscreants," the declaration mentioned.

The KP Chief Minister's Advisor on Information, Barrister Muhammad Ali Saif, stated that the current situation in Kurram District will remain challenging until two key conditions are met: the demolition of bunkers and the confiscation of weapons.

Once these conditions are fulfilled, the situation is expected to improve. "Without these [measures], it's not possible to neutralize the situation," Barrister Saif said.

Naqvi and Gandapur meet seperately

Federal Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi and KP Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur met to discuss the ongoing law and order crisis in Kurram and the province ahead of the apex committee meeting.

During their meeting, Naqvi pledged full support to the provincial government and emphasized the need to strengthen law enforcement capabilities to restore peace in the area.