Parachinar

http://www.thenews.com.pk/TodaysPrintDetail.aspx?ID=30046&Cat=2&dt=2/8/2011

TTP warns violators of Kurram peace deal

SADDA: Militants of the outlawed Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) in Kurram Agency said on Monday that they would extend all-out support to the political administration and security forces to implement the peace agreement reached between elders of the Sunni and Shia sects.

Speaking at a press conference from an unknown location in central Kurram Agency, Kurram TTP chief Fazal Saeed said militants would hand down severe punishment under the Shariah if any party flouted the peace deal. Asking all the stakeholders to abide by the pact, he said nobody would be allowed to sabotage the peace process. "We will first ask the political administration and jirga members to take action against the side violating the agreement. But we will be justified to punish the violators after 15 days as per the accord," he warned.

The militant leader added that Islamic teachings strictly prohibited violation of agreements when reached by warring sides for peace and tranquility and cessation of hostilities. He urged the Shia scholars to play their role in implementing the peace agreement as it was in the interest of all the people.

Saeed asked the Shias to use roads including the Thall-Parachinar Road without any fear as the TTP was not against the peace deal between the Shia and Sunni elders for lasting peace in Kurram Agency. The peace agreement was reached between the Sunni and Shia elders in Islamabad on February 3. However, it was being feared in certain quarters that the TTP would not accept the deal.

SOURCE:

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source: http://www.centralasiaonline.com/cocoon/caii/xhtml/en_GB/features/caii/features/pakistan/main/2011/02/04/feature-02

Sunday, February 6, 2011

Thall-Para Chinar road re-opens after 4 years

By M. Ibrahim
2011-02-04

Pakistani soldiers guard a road in Sadda, a town in Kurram Agency in the Federally Administered Tribal Areas along the Afghan border July 6, 2010. A Kurram Agency deal Febuary 4 will reopen the main Thall-Para Chinar road for the first time in four years. [REUTERS/Mian Khursheed]

PARA CHINAR – A key road will re-open as part of a peace deal that a 16-member tribal jirga struck in the restive tribal region of Kurram Agency bordering Afghanistan February 4.

"The important Thall-Para Chinar road, which was closed for the past four years due to Taliban attacks, will be open for all types of traffic on February 5," said Munir Orakzai."The important Thall-Para Chinar road, which was closed for the past four years due to Taliban attacks, will be open for all types of traffic on February 5," said Munir Orakzai, a Kurram parliamentarian and member of the jirga.

Besides re-opening the road, Sunni and Shia tribal leaders agreed to rehabilitate and compensate affected families, end sectarian hostilities and clear their areas of militants. The federal government is supporting the agreement.

Sectarian strife and later the increasing influence of the Taliban ripped the social fabric of Kurram Agency, said Asad Ali, a former resident of Para Chinar who moved to Peshawar for security reasons.

Para Chinar road had been deemed unsafe

In 2007, authorities declared the Thall-Para Chinar road unsafe for travel. Sectarian attacks devastated Shia and Sunni homes, places of worship and business centres in Para Chinar and its surrounding areas. More than 3,000 Shia and Sunni tribesmen were killed during the past four years of intra-tribal conflict. Thousands of locals fled their homes.

"I think the (unwanted presence of) Taliban militants compelled the warring sects to join hands and live peacefully in the area," a local journalist said on condition of anonymity. "Now the Taliban will not be able to take advantage of their hostilities."

"The important Thall-Para Chinar road, which was closed for the past four years due to Taliban attacks, will be open for all types of traffic on February 5," said Munir Orakzai.

Without the road, Para Chinar residents had to use the Kabul-Torkhum route to reach Peshawar and other parts of Pakistan.

Re-opening will bring prosperity, some predict

The road re-opening will usher in an era of prosperity in the Shia community, which had lived under a persistent Taliban threat, many in Kurram Agency said.

Hundreds of Taliban fighters who had fled from military operations in North and South Waziristan, Bajaur and Swat took refuge in different parts of Kurram Agency, Said Wazir, a resident of Sadda sub-division, said.

"The Taliban presence in Kurram jeopardised the peace in the area besides putting at risk the lives of most Shia," Wazir observed.

Malik Waris Khan Afridi, a member of the jirga, told Central Asia Online that he hoped Pakistani security forces would protect the road and that the federal government, which is backing the deal, would compensate affected families.

The local population suffered monetary losses of 1.6 billion rupees (US $18.6m) during the four years of fighting, the government has estimated.

Families affected by militancy will be compensated

Compensation to affected families will go out in instalments, with the first Rs. 300m due in the coming week, Federal Interior Minister Rehman Malik told jirga members in Islamabad.

Taliban fighters from across the border are responsible for continued unrest in Kurram Agency, Malik alleged.

"The terror unleashed by the Taliban in Kurram is misinterpreted as sectarian strife," Rehman Malik said, noting that local elders have agreed to cleanse their area of all miscreants.

The local administration will ensure the safe return and repatriation of all the displaced families from Para Chinar and Sadda, Orakzai said. Local clerics in their Friday sermons lauded the peace deal and urged the local communities to abide by it.

"Let's rise against the enemies of our land and throw them out of our areas," a local religious leader urged local residents during Friday prayers.

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Turi Bangash’s tribes rejected Rehman’s claims of Opening main Thall Parachinar blocked road

KURRAM AGENCY: Elders council of Turi Bangash's tribes rejected Rehman Malik claims of Opening main Thall Parachinar blocked road from February 5,2011 terming it as just media point scoring for govt.

In a statement issued the elders council told that such false claims and promises were made for more than 10 times during last three years by using media as a tool for publishing breaking news and media point scoring in favor of PPP regime. While all the times just in very first attempt when passengers convey escorted by FC is prepared after such announcement the convey is attacked by Taliban and their local supporters in the jurisdiction of Chaparri check-posts in different areas of Lower Kurram in the presence of Silent Security forces(FC) is best proof of state terrorism.

Elders Council further mentioned by clearing the Point that they will consider the Road as completely open When Rehman Malik along with Kurram's MNAs & grand Jirga members will themselves travel on Road while all the time they deceive the common men including women and children. They warned that if this time such incident will took place then Rehman Malik will be declared as killer for that.

source: http://www.onlinenews.com.pk/details.php?id=174759

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source: http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=2011%5C02%5C05%5Cstory_5-2-2011_pg3_4

Saturday, February 5, 2011

The Kurram conundrum

Saturday, February 05, 2011

ANALYSIS: The Kurram conundrum —Farhat Taj

There is only one way forward for peace in Kurram: strict enforcement of the writ of the government. Unless this is done, peace will remain elusive

Kurram Agency has been in turmoil since the violent sectarian clashes of 2007. Since then thousands of Sunni and Shia families have been displaced, hundreds killed and the Parachinar-Tal road is unsafe for Shia travel. Shia travellers on the road have come under several attacks, forcing them to travel via Afghanistan to reach Peshawar. Travelling via Afghanistan has never been easy — it is expensive and not always safe. Even the Afghan route has now been closed by the government of Pakistan since September 2010 when NATO forces violated the Pakistani side of the Durand Line. Due to the road blockade, the prices of food, medicine and other daily commodities are exceptionally high in Parachinar. The displaced people report that aid agencies have stopped giving them food aid, which has added to their hardships. There seems to be no sign of the end to violence and despair in Kurram.

The first month of 2011 too has been violent. On January 4, a convoy carrying food and other goods of daily use to Parachinar was attacked. Some 22 trucks were first looted and then burnt. Seemingly, the security forces accompanying the convoy did nothing to stop the attackers. By the end of this month, an important tribal leader from Parachinar, Iqbal Hussain, who belongs to the Sunni sect, was target killed in his home. The killer introduced himself as the political agent of Kurram to a child of the family on the doorstep. The child informed her grandfather, Iqbal Hussain, who rushed to the door where the killer showered him with bullets.

An outsider dealing with the Shias and Sunnis of Kurram would experience that they often desist from sitting with each other due to perceived security problems. The Shias tend to feel insecure in a 'Sunni place' and vice versa. Iqbal Hussain's home in Hayatabad, Peshawar was one such place where the Shias and Sunnis would sit together without fear. A well-educated man, Iqbal Hussain was widely respected by both the Shias and Sunnis of Kurram. In his last few days, he had been documenting a history of Kurram. His assassination is a setback for any hopes of peace in Kurram and a scholarly loss in terms of his work on Kurram's history, which abruptly came to an end with his assassination.

At the macro-level, the crisis in Kurram is part of the crisis in the rest of FATA, i.e. the fruition of the military establishment's strategic depth pursuit in Afghanistan. At a micro-level, however, Kurram presents a totally different picture from the rest of FATA, including Orakzai, which is a mixed Shia-Sunni area like Kurram. In all other parts of FATA, people hold the Pakistan Army and the Taliban responsible for the brutalities committed against them.

In Kurram, the Shias hold the local Sunnis responsible for their sufferings and vice versa. Both accuse each other of being co-opted by outside forces — the Taliban in the case of Sunnis and the Ayatollah's Iran in case of the Shias — for committing atrocities against each other. The Shias hold local Sunnis like Eid Nazar Mangal, linked with the Punjab-based anti-Shia terrorist group Sipah-e-Sahaba, and Fazal Saeed, linked with the Taliban, as being responsible for the crimes against them. The Sunnis hold local Shias like Abid Hussain, Syed Hashem Ibrahimzai and a non-local Shia, Maulana Irfan Nawaz Irfani, responsible for the atrocities committed against Sunnis in Kurram. The Shias claim that the Sunnis have filled the rank and file of the Taliban, who have indiscriminately been killing Shias. The Sunnis say that the Shias have established armed militant gangs, Hizbullah and Mehdi Militia, who have massacred and displaced Sunnis.

One thing is clear in the Kurram crisis: innocent people, both Shias and Sunnis, have greatly suffered since 2007. This includes thousands of displaced Shia and Sunni families since 2007 and the trapped people in Parachinar.

There is only one way forward for peace in Kurram: strict enforcement of the writ of the government. It is true that some people or groups, both Shia and Sunni, in Kurram have shown that they are capable of committing the worst kinds of brutalities against each other. However, there may be people like that in any society. It is the primary responsibility of the state to exert control over such people and protect the rest of the population from their violent tendencies. The Shia and Sunni tribes in Kurram are the same ones that have always been present in the area, most of the time living in peace and harmony. It is true that they have had tribal and sectarian clashes in the past as well. In the past, the clashes or crises were brought under control in a short time of mere days or weeks. How was that possible in the past? The people of Kurram say that in past clashes, the warring tribal groups used to immediately vacate their positions when only a couple of shots were fired in the air by the government's long range artillery based in Kurram. This would be followed by a tribal jirga under the watch of the political agent of Kurram and the crisis would be brought to an end. The end of the crisis would be followed by years of peace. Such was the writ of the government in Kurram. The people wonder why the government is desisting since 2007 to fire those couple of shots at the Shia-Sunni warring positions.

The problem of attacks on Shia travellers on the Parachinar-Tal road is linked with the displacement of Sunnis from Kurram since 2007. The displacement of Sunnis is linked with the displacement of Shias from lower Kurram in the 1980s under General Zia's plan to cleanse the area from Shias for accommodation of his Afghan mujahideen. The government needs to resolve these issues immediately after having imposed its writ on the warring Shia and Sunni groups. Unless this is done, peace will remain elusive. In the meanwhile, moderate Shia and Sunni tribal leaders, like Iqbal Hussain, will continue to be target-killed, the hardliners on both sides will grow in strength and the innocent people, both Shia and Sunni, will continue to suffer atrocities.

The writer is a PhD Research Fellow with the University of Oslo and currently writing a book, Taliban and Anti-Taliban

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source: http://tribune.com.pk/story/113889/kurram-tribal-region-peace-accord-signed-to-end-years-of-bloodshed/

Friday, February 4, 2011

Kurram tribal region: Peace accord signed to end years of bloodshed

By Qaiser Butt

Published: February 4, 2011

Tal-Parachinar highway to reopen on Saturday; tribesmen agree to honour the jirga.

ISLAMABAD: The four-year-long tribal feud between the majority Shia and minority Sunni communities in Parachinar came to an end on Thursday, as the two sides signed a historic peace accord.

Top tribal elders and parliamentarians representing the Federally Administered Tribal Areas (Fata) announced that the accord will come into effect from February 5, with the reopening of the main highway between Tal and Parachinar. The road was closed because of bloody armed clashes that left over 2,000 people dead and over 3,500 injured over the past three years. Similarly, all key roads in the entire Kurram tribal agency will also be reopened for traffic. The accord will be marked with the performance of tribal "Teega" by all local tribal heads and jirga leaders to declare a formal ceasefire.

More than 3,000 families had to abandon their hometowns to shift to safer places in Peshawar and parts of Fata, during the sectarian violence and bloodshed.

Jirga Chief Malik Waris Khan Afridi, while giving the details of the accord to the media, said the federal government will financially compensate the affected tribesmen soon.

Interior Minister Rehman Malik also attended the news conference to demonstrate the government's support for the historic peace accord.

The Shia community suffered more loss to life and finances as the Afghan and Pakistani Taliban supported rival Sunni groups. Over 200 people were killed by suicide attacks by the Taliban against the rival sect.

The tribesmen of Parachinar region were forced to travel via Afghanistan to visit other parts of Fata and Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa for over three years, due to the closure of the Tal-Parachinar highway.

The federal government encouraged Fata parliamentarians to resolve the issue and arrange a ceasefire between the two conflicting parties.

Headed by Malik Waris Khan Afridi, the former federal minister from Khyber Agency, the 220-member tribal jirga took two years to arrange a negotiated settlement of the issue.

MNA Sajid Toori from Parachinar and MNA Muneer Orakzai played leading roles to bring the two sides to the negotiation table.

Giving the details of the accord, Afridi said the safe and secure return of the tribesmen will be ensured by the government. He added that the jirga was in fact a continuation of the Murree accord, which was arranged a few months ago for ceasefire. In response to the demands by the jirga, the interior minister announced that the government will financially compensate the affected people. He said that he would forward a formal summary to the prime minister for a special package for the victims of the clashes.

Tribesmen across all divides have assured the government of their support for the peace accord. "We have been assured by all tribesmen that they will honour the decisions taken by the jirga," Afridi concluded.

Published in The Express Tribune, February 4^th, 2011.

Tall-Parachinar road to be reopened from Feb 5

ISLAMABAD: The federal government and tribal jirga Thursday announced the reopening of Tall-Parachinar road and all roads in Kurram Agency from February 5, which has been closed for the last four years.
The tribal jirga held here with Federal Interior Minister Rehman in the chair. The jirga was attended by tribal elders from all agencies including MNA Sajid Hussain Turi, Munir Orakzai, Eng Shaukatullah, NA deputy speaker Faisal Karim Kundi, Malik Waris Khan and all large number of tribal elders.
The jirga announced complete implementation of the Murree peace deal. It was decided that all the internally displaced persons would be helped in returning and rehabilitating in their respective villages. The government would pay compensation to the victims of the violence. About Rs1600 million have been allocated for the compensation to the victims.
Federal Minister for Interior Rehman Malik on this occasion reprimanded the political agent of the Kurram Agency Syed Musadiq Shah and held him responsible for not reopening of the roads and violence and warned him of stern action if he failed in his duty. He said that all the tribesmen would be responsible for the security of roads in their respective areas, while the Frontier Corps and Frontier Constabulary would provide complete support to them.
The Shia and Sunni tribal elders assured their complete support for implementation of the Murree peace deal and said that the government should show seriousness in restoration of complete peace.
Some tribal elders were of the view that if the government did not take decisive action against militants present in the area, then the security on roads would be impossible.

source: http://www.khybernews.tv/news_details.php?newsid=5581

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Kurram roads to open tomorrow: Malik

Friday, February 04, 2011

ISLAMABAD: Federal Interior Minister Rehman Malik Thursday said roads of Kurram Agency including Tal-Parachinar Highway will be opened for all types of traffic from tomorrow (Saturday). These roads have been closed for the last four years due to sore circumstances.

He was talking to the media after holding a jirga with tribal leaders of Kurram Agency at the Ministry of Interior. He said terrorists from Afghanistan were carrying out terror attacks in Kurram Agency that are given the name of sectarian violence.

Rehman Malik presided the jirga, which was attended by tribal leaders of Ahl-e-Sunnat-wal-Jamaat and Ahl-e-Tashi sects, as well as members National Assembly Munir Orakzai, Sajid Toori and Deputy Speaker National Assembly Faisal Karim Kundi. Tribal leaders of both the sects expressed the gesture of reconciliation and unity. They also gave recommendations to the minister and assured their full cooperation with government.

Rehman Malik assured the tribal leaders that the central government in coordination with Fata administration, provincial government of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and governor would work for the development and peace of the agency.

APP adds: A passport office would be set up in Tank district, announced Interior Minister Rehman Malik here Thursday, saying that the government was serious in uplift of the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province. The minister announced this during a meeting with National Assembly Deputy Speaker Faisal Karim Kundi, who had demanded a passport office for the district as the area people had to visit adjoining DI Khan district for this purpose. Dawar Kundi, Abdul Majeed Khan and Haji Abdul Rasheed were also present during the meeting.

source: http://www.thenews.com.pk/TodaysPrintDetail.aspx?ID=29340&Cat=2&dt=2/4/2011

Kurram Agency roads including Tal-Para Chinar Highway to be opened on Feb 5th

Kurram Agency roads including Tal-Para Chinar Highway to be opened on Feb 5th: Malik

ISLAMABAD: Federal Interior Minister, Rehman Malik said roads of Kurram Agency including Tal-Para Chinar Highway will be opened for all type of traffic from February 5th. These were closed for the last four years due to sore circumstances.

He was talking to media after holding the Jirga with tribal leaders of Kurram Agency in ministry here in Islamabad on Thursday where he said terrorists from Afghanistan were carrying out terrorist attacks in Kurram Agency that are given the name of sectarian violence.

Rehman Malik presided the Jirga, which was attended by tribal leaders of Ahl-e-Sunnat Waljamat and Ahl-e-Tashi sects, as well as members National Assembly Muneer Orakzai, Sajid Toori and Deputy Speaker National Assembly, Faisal Karim Kundi.

Tribal leaders of both the sects expressed the gesture of reconciliation and unity. They also gave recommendations to minister, as well as assured their full cooperation with government.

During the course of media interaction, Rehman Malik said sects belonging from the Kurram Agency and tribal families have pledged for reconciliation and combating the terrorists from across the border. He said links of Kurram Agency with other parts of the country would restore and deficit of four years will be compensated.

Tribal leaders said during the clashes between clans and across the border terrorism, hundreds of people have been killed, about three thousands injured, whereas Rs. 1.6 billions financial damages have also been faced. They said complete truce is settled between Sunni and Shia sects, whereas terrorist who come across the border also try to flare up the sectarian violence.

During the Jirga meeting, Rehman Malik assured the tribal leaders that central government in coordination with FATA Administration, provincial government of KPK and governor would work for the development and peace of the agency. He also pledged that very soon FATA would become as peaceful as rest of the country is.

Murree Accord was also reviewed in the Jirga where tribal leaders demanded that government ensures the effective role of security forces for the establishment of peace. They also demanded that steps must also be commenced for the resettlement of expelled people, as well as for the resolution of miscellaneous conflicts.

Interior Minister assured them very soon a strategy would be made for the disbursements to effectees through a committee. He also distributed checks among the heirs of deceased students of Islamic international University blasts.

source: http://www.onlinenews.com.pk/details.php?id=174680

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