Kurram clashes death toll rises to 88

PARACHINAR: The death toll from ongoing tribal clashes in Kurram has reached 88, with 111 others injured, as violence continued on Monday in Bagan village and Alizai areas of the district.

On Sunday, the provincial government announced a seven-day ceasefire, stating that the warring tribes had agreed to exchange prisoners and return bodies. A government delegation was dispatched to Kurram to mediate and end the hostilities.

Barrister Mohammad Ali Saif, Adviser to the Chief Minister on Information and Public Relations, informed reporters that the delegation would revisit Kurram in the coming days to advance peace efforts and restore order.

Despite these efforts, violence has persisted for the past four days. According to police and hospital reports, intense gunfire continues, claiming two more lives and injuring 19 others. Among the deceased is Mushtaq Hussain, who succumbed to injuries sustained during an attack on a convoy in the Mandori Uch area on November 21—a brutal incident that has already claimed 50 lives.

The unrest has severely disrupted daily life. The main Peshawar-Parachinar Road remains closed, and internet and mobile services are suspended. Educational institutions in the district are shut down, and a fuel shortage has emerged. The Board of Intermediate and Secondary Education Kohat has also postponed FA and FSc annual examinations in the region.

In response to the crisis, a delegation from the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa provincial government, including Barrister Mohammad Ali Saif, Provincial Law Minister Aftab Alam, Chief Secretary Nadeem Aslam, Inspector General of Police Akhtar Hayat Gandapur, and the Kohat commissioner, recently visited the affected areas.

The delegation met with tribal elders from both sides, who emphasized the need to reopen the main road and ensure safe passage for residents. Efforts to mediate and restore peace are ongoing, but tensions remain high.