Was the Kohat Agreement an act of haste, or a politically motivated move – a concept traditionally embedded in Pakistani politics?
On January 01, 2025, a peace agreement was concluded under the provincial government of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa in Kohat between the two factions of District Kurram. The agreement sparked a wave of joy across the district, putting an end to the late-2024 armed conflicts. The provincial government hailed the peace deal as a ray of hope and love. Apart from the people of Kurram, the whole of Pakistan expressed deep satisfaction with the agreement. However, the joy did not last long and a new wave of bloodletting shattered the hopes of peace and prosperity.
Before moving on to the post-agreement events and possible ways for establishing permanent peace in the region, I will shed light on the steps taken by the government under the Kohat deal. The government unequivocally took some immediate steps for the restoration of peace in the area. The measures included deploying additional forces and setting up checkpoints on Thall-Parachinar Road. Furthermore, hundreds of bunkers were demolished and weapons were surrendered to the authorities. An estimated sum of one billion was spent on the Safe Roads Project, and a cybercrime branch was set up to cope with triggering content on social media. Moreover, committees were also established on a village basis to identify peace-threatening elements. Despite all these measures, peace is unable to take root in the district. What lies behind this failure?
“Effort without will is like a car without fuel; effort without guidance is like a car without a map.”
The quotation illustrates how the government’s actions failed to prove effective in restoring peace to the green valley. Firstly, the provincial government underestimated the opinions of the signatories of the Kohat Agreement (elders of the area) and imposed its own conditions. Secondly, the authorities overlooked the root causes of the conflict. For instance, the elders from Turi and Bangash tribes suggested a potent solution to root out the igniting factors promptly. Among these, the land disputes between the two sides lie at the top—a triggering point of the conflict. In this case, the “lands” are not meant for “arable lands” but are strategic points, essential for security reasons, particularly in the case of Parachinar.
Thirdly, the will of the state seems infirm because, under its supervision, two convoys carrying food items and other equipment to Parachinar were ambushed, looted, and their vehicles set on fire in the Bagan-Charkhel area of Lower Kurram. Moreover, vehicle drivers along with passengers were beheaded by terrorists on their way to Parachinar. Meanwhile, a village came under attack in Lower Kurram, and hence, Parachinar remained under siege even after inking the January accord. Since then, several events of target killings have been reported in scattered areas of the valley.
All the arrangements made by the government are seen as attempts to restore peace and are considered an effective way to make Kurram a haven of peace. The above measures have certainly played a role in reducing the initial difficulties; nevertheless, for stable and long-lasting peace, the following measures must be taken and implemented immediately. The state must implement the rest of the points of the Kohat Agreement in letter and spirit. Some important ones of the remaining points include ensuring the permanent opening of Thall-Parachinar Road and the settlement of land disputes through a land revenue commission. The notion of permanent peace in Kurram and the end of longstanding tensions will soon be possible provided the state guarantees road safety and resolves land disputes via the land revenue commission.
In the meantime, strict action against the non-state actors – TTP (Khawarij) and elements from other proscribed organizations – is indispensable. It is one of the possible steps toward making Kurram a beacon of peace. Undoubtedly, the civil administration and law enforcement agencies have already launched certain sanitization operations in several parts of Lower and Central Kurram. However, despite all these operations, terrorists have shown their continued presence in different parts of the district.
Further, a swift move is needed against the irresponsible users of social media, as they deepen divisions among people from both sides; but it should be taken on a parity basis. The main problem related to social media is the biased and capricious attitude of some prominent elders (Mushraan) propagating hatred and concocted stories among the general masses on their side. Thus, authorities must take prompt action against them. Likewise, the eradication of extremism could prove to be one of the essentials for paving the way toward a peaceful Kurram. It is more the duty of Ulema than of the government.
In addition, the government needs to be pragmatic and realistic in its approach to addressing the offenders. It is essential for the authorities to identify who actually falls within the realm of terrorism. Now it is high time to abandon the fifty-fifty criteria in order to reinforce the efforts being taken for consolidating peace in the district.
Lastly, infiltration from Afghanistan into Parachinar, which falls within the jurisdiction of the federal government, should be reviewed at the earliest, as it requires urgent attention to foil further intrusion into the soil of Pakistan.
To sum up, it is important to know that Kurram in general, and Parachinar in particular, have witnessed many periods of turmoil throughout their history. Kurram conflicts are often named as sectarian clashes, conflicts over land disputes, and tribal wars, but reality differs from these terms. The issue is neither sectarian nor tribal. It is a continued struggle from the people of Parachinar (Turi and Bangash) against the non-state actors and elements from other terror groups.
There are many shortcomings on the part of the government due to which the issue still remains unresolved. However, if the government executes the aforementioned solutions, the day is not far away when people from both sides will catch a breath of fresh air of peace and mutual harmony. Hence, the sole responsibility does not lie with the government—it is the common duty of the people from both sides to make peace deep-rooted in the area, because one side alone cannot make it happen, as it has stood alone over the years in the pursuit of peace.