Deadlock in Kurram Jirga Stalls Peace Agreement Amid Humanitarian Crisis

The Kurram grand jirga convened in Kohat has failed to resolve the impasse on key issues critical to restoring peace in the troubled Kurram district. Despite marathon discussions under the leadership of Commissioner Kohat, Mutasim Bilal Shah, the dispute over surrendering heavy weaponry has delayed the signing of a comprehensive peace agreement.

“The government cannot risk reopening the roads unless all heavy weaponry is securely stored,” 

Commissioner Shah stated during the assembly at Kohat Fort. He emphasized that trust-building steps, including mutual disarmament, are non-negotiable for long-term stability.

While broad agreement was achieved on many provisions, the contentious demand for mutual disarmament — with all factions handing over weapons to government authorities — has left discussions deadlocked. Government representatives have highlighted that any resolution must align with the Apex Committee’s directives, which prioritize peace and safety in the region.

With road networks blocked for weeks, residents of Kurram face mounting hardships. Helicopter services have been activated to deliver medicines and supplies to the region. Health Advisor Ihtesham Ali reported that 

“since December 13, over 16,000 patients have been treated at Parachinar DHQ, most of them women and children. For critically ill patients unable to visit hospitals, medicines are being delivered to their homes.”

Ali also assured that health centers in Upper Kurram, including Parachinar DHQ, have sufficient medical supplies, including insulin and medications for chronic conditions. Yet, patients have described the situation as dire. On Thursday, Pakistan’s health department sent medical supplies to Kurram district.

“My son requires regular insulin for his condition, and we’ve had to depend on emergency helicopter drops for his survival,” 

said Fatima Bibi, a resident of Parachinar. 

“The government must act to reopen roads and end this nightmare.”

Growing frustration over prolonged blockades has ignited protests beyond Kurram. In Parachinar, a sit-in outside the Press Club on Kachehri Road has entered its sixth day. Activists have called for immediate government intervention, while prominent philanthropist Faisal Edhi has drawn national attention to the crisis.

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“If proper records were kept, they would reveal that more than 100 children have died due to the conflict,” 

Edhi lamented during a meeting with the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan in Karachi. 

“Critical patients have no access to treatment, and even private hospitals are running out of essential supplies like oxygen.”

Solidarity protests have disrupted Karachi’s traffic system, bringing areas such as Shahra-e-Faisal, MA Jinnah Road, and University Road to a standstill. Religious leader Allama Hassan Zafer Naqvi reiterated solidarity with Kurram residents:

“This protest is not just about Kurram—it’s about exposing the government’s failure to address a humanitarian crisis.”