ISLAMABAD: A grand council of elders formed by the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) government has brokered a ceasefire in the restive Kurram district for an indefinite period, an official said on Friday, where sectarian clashes since last month have killed at least 133. 

The KP government this week formed the grand jirga or council of elders comprising former parliamentarians and senators from tribal districts, with representation from both the Sunni and Shiite sects, to broker a truce between warring tribes. The decision was taken after clashes in the volatile Kurram district killed 133 and injured 171 since Nov. 21. 

Pakistan is a Sunni-majority country, but Kurram has a large Shiite population, and the communities have clashed for decades. The latest round of clashes broke out in the restive district after a caravan of Shiites was attacked in Parachinar town last Thursday, killing 41. 

“The grand jirga held individual as well as collective settings with both the sides and after the hours-long deliberations, agreed on a ceasefire in Kurram district for an indefinite period,” Commissioner Kohat Division Syed Motasim Billah Shah said in a statement. 

“And the bunkers will remain empty until the final decision of the grand jirga.”

Javedullah Mehsud, Kurram district’s deputy commissioner, said authorities were using a “multi-pronged policy” to resolve the issue, which included the deployment of security officials in sensitive locations and the jirga engaging in talks with rival sides. 

“The jirga is heading in the right direction and we expect a permanent ceasefire in the next three, four or five days,” Mehsud told Arab News. 

Shaheen Bangash, a Sunni member of the council, said both warring tribes earnestly want peace and harmony. However, he doubted the jirga could succeed in striking a peace deal. 

“De-weaponizing Kurram region was the shortest possible route to avoid bloody clashes in future,” he said. 

Bangash urged the government to help resolve land disputes in Kurram, pointing out that in most cases, a small dispute developed into an armed clash leading to tensions. 

“The government, Shiite and Sunni are the three main stakeholders in the Kurram saga,” Bangash said.” And there are a few people who created constant disharmony in this sensitive region.”

Since last Thursday, days of fighting with light and heavy weapons have brought the region to a standstill, with major roads closed and mobile phone services cut as the death toll surged.

Kurram police spokesperson Riaz Hussain told Arab News that no fresh clashes had been reported during the last two days. 

However, he said the main highways connecting the district with Peshawar and other adjacent areas such as the Thall-Parachinar Road had been blocked for the movement of passenger vehicles.

“The ceasefire is so far in place in Kurram and no fresh firing incident has been reported as of yet,” he added.

Hajji Abid Hussain, a Shiite elder and former president of Anjuman-e- Hussainia Parachinar, the biggest social, religious and political platform of the Shiite community in the district, told Arab News that he was optimistic about the jirga’s progress in maintaining peace in the area. 

Hussain, also a member of the jirga, was also of the view that resolving small land disputes was a prerequisite to ensure lasting peace in the district. 

“The jirga members are shuttling between both the rival sides, holding negotiations with the elders,” he said. “I’m very optimistic that a breakthrough to achieve durable ceasefire is expected very soon.”