Rival tribes sign peace deal in restive Kurram tribal region

Islamabad, Oct 16 (PTI) Warring tribes in Pakistan's
restive northwestern Kurram tribal region have signed a peace
agreement after months of sectarian fighting in the area that
claimed over 1,500 lives.

The peace pact was signed late Wednesday following
discussions between elders of rival Shia and Sunni tribes
during a jirga held in the resort town of Murree.

The jirga or tribal council was attended by elders
from Kurram Agency and other tribal areas and 17 tribal
parliamentarians. According to the agreement, any tribe
violating the truce will be penalised 40 million rupees.

The jirga members said steps will be taken to reopen a
key road linking Parachinar, the main town in Kurram Agency,
to other parts of the country. The closure of the road since
last year has resulted in a shortage of food and medicines in
the region. Bodies and prisoners will also be exchanged by the
rival tribes.

The jirga will also take steps to resettle people
displaced by months of fighting between rival tribesmen armed
with heavy weapons like rocket launchers and mortars.

The Kurram Agency, which has a sizeable population of
Shia Turi tribesmen, has witnessed sectarian clashes since
early last year. The fighting intensified in October last year
and could not be controlled despite the intervention of the
Pakistan Army, which used gunship helicopters to target
positions of rival tribesmen.

The situation worsened after Taliban militants
infiltrated Kurram Agency and began launching attacks on Shia
tribesmen. Convoys carrying food and supplies to
Shia-dominated areas were targeted by the militants, who
abducted and killed several truck drivers. An earlier peace
pact brokered by the local political administration in Kurram
Agency had collapsed within weeks.