Fresh clashes in Kurram claim three lives

PAKISTAN

Fresh clashes in Kurram claim three lives

By Our Correspondent 
Monday, 29 Jun, 2009 | 05:23 AM PST |

  

Sectarian clashes in Kurram agency have caused many casualties, cut off the area from the rest of the country and pushed the region to the verge of a civil war. - File photo

PROVINCES

Money for the Taliban

Media Gallery

'Bombs fell, rockets came … so we left'

PARACHINAR: Three people were killed and six others injured in sectarian clashes in different areas of the Kurram agency on Sunday.

Reports of clashes have been received from Sadda, Balishkhel, Makhizai, Khar Kali and Shakerdara areas of Lower Kurram.

It is learnt that officials and elders from both sides are trying to broker a truce.

Armed groups positioned on hilltops have attacked residential areas.

A large number of people have left the conflict-hit areas and moved to safe places.

Meanwhile, an all-party conference held in Parachinar has called upon the government to launch a military operation against militants. The participants said the region, cut off from the rest of the country for two years, was on the verge of a civil war.

The conference decided that tribesmen would support every step the government would take for peace and stability in the region.

The conference demanded that the government should take immediate action to stop clashes and open the main road.

 

Visit

www.parachinar616..blogspot.com

 

view my profile

 

or join

Click to join

parachinar616

 

Eight more die in Kurram clashes

briefs...

Monday, June 29, 2009 Eight more die in Kurram clashes By our correspondent SADDA: Eight more people were killed and several others injured during the ongoing clashes in various parts of the troubled Lower Kurram Agency on Sunday, sources said. The sources told The News that armed men of the warring tribes were sporadically trading fire and targeting each other's positions in Balishkhel, Sangeena, Khar Killay, Sadda city and Mingak areas of the agency. The body of Gul Rehman, Naib Subedar of the Kurram Levies, who was killed by armed men of the Turi tribe after occupying Lakay Sar, was recovered on Saturday night and buried in Sadda on Sunday.

 

SOURCE: http://www.thenews.com.pk/top_story_detail.asp?Id=23006

Visit

www.parachinar616.blogspot.com

 

view my profile

 

or join

Click to join

parachinar616

 

The long wait in Kurram

Monday, June 29, 2009

Ede itorial: The long wait in Kurram

As Kurram Agency on the border with Afghanistan waits for the return of the writ of the Pakistani state for the past three years, the Taliban depredations in the guise of sectarianism continue around the headquarters of the Parachinar agency. At least 33 people were killed and 65 others injured in "sectarian clashes" in various parts of Kurram Agency on Friday night and Saturday. In the last 12 days, the casualty list includes 89 people dead and 175 injured.

The local population has virtually given up on Pakistan during the two years that have seen all roads going to Pakistan cut off and the federal government ditching them after promising to come to their help "within a fortnight". The local administration, if it can be called that, "cooperates" with the Taliban in the interim and exposes the besieged Shia majority population of Parachinar. According to a local tribesman quoted in the press: "We have had over 700 young people martyred but have not allowed these militants to secure a toehold in upper Kurram. Now the influx of Taliban from Swat, Dir and other areas is worsening the situation".

Because Pakistan has virtually said goodbye to Kurram, it is no longer possible for the people of the agency to get food and medicine from Pakistan. The Sunni Taliban and their cohorts accuse the Shia of getting help from Afghanistan; the Shia accuse the Sunni groups of getting ever-increasing fighting manpower from Waziristan and Hangu.

Kurram faces Tora Bora on the other side of the border. This is the route that Al Qaeda and its Taliban supporters took to escape from Afghanistan in 2001. The local Parachinar population, being Shia, did not cooperate because of the age-old rivalry between them and the surrounding Sunni tribes. After the establishment of the Tehreek-e Taliban Pakistan (TTP) things have got much worse since the Sunni militias that hunt the local Shia are commanded by warlords owing allegiance to Baitullah Mehsud.

The sectarian scourge is also strengthened by the schism in the nearby Orakzai Agency where Baitullah's commander Hakimullah has nearly 8,000 fighters under him and is busy warring with the opponent Shia militia of Hussain Ali Shah with 7,000 fighters at his disposal. As this war spilled into Kurram, another commander of Baitullah Mehsud, Qari Hussain, the expert in preparing suicide-bombers in a matter of hours, has been operating against the Shia in Kurram. Qari Hussain was reported killed recently during military operation, but his partners are carrying on the sectarian massacre after him.

If and when Pakistan decides to tackle the crisis in Kurram it will find that after years of neglect, the killing machine of the Taliban has bound Kurram to Orakzai, Khyber and Darra Adamkhel through the activities of commander Hakimullah. Other NWFP cities like Hangu and Kohat have caught the virus because of the presence of the Taliban at their outskirts with local administration increasingly in the subordinate mode with them. The Taliban and Al Qaeda sympathisers in Kohat are the actual rulers in this region and have their outreach into Islamabad through the Lal Masjid clergy.

After the death of Qari Hussain, it is the warlord of Darra Adamkhel, Commander Tariq, who is carrying on the war against the Kurram population with the help of other TTP allies. Long years of neglect have tilted the Shia population in favour of some help that they get from the Hazaras of Afghanistan. Also, after the area was cut off from the rest of Pakistan, the Kurram Shias were said to be receiving some assistance from Iran. This has actually exacerbated the situation with a more intensified polarisation between the Shia and those fighting a covert war against Iran.

The people of Kurram have waited a long time for the state of Pakistan to rescue them. Now as the state asserts itself for sovereignty in South Waziristan and the TTP and Al Qaeda terrorists are on the run, the time may have come for the Interior Minister, Rehman Malik, to fulfil his pledge that Pakistan would come to the rescue of Kurram "within a fortnight". That was said many months ago. *

SOURCE: http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=2009\06\29\story_29-6-2009_pg3_1

 

Visit

www.parachinar616.blogspot.com

 

view my profile

 

or join

Click to join

parachinar616

 

APC demands operation in Kurram Agency

Monday, June 29, 2009

APC demands operation in Kurram Agency

* Politicians allege Lower Kurram administration supporting Taliban 

Daily Times Monitor 

LAHORE: An all-parties conference (APC) in Parachinar has urged the government to immediately start an operation in Kurram Agency against the Taliban, and alleged the local administration in Lower Kurram is supporting the Taliban, reported a private TV channel on Sunday. 

Addressing the APC, Pakistan People's Party (PPP) leader Hamid Hussain, Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) leader Mehmood Jan, Awami National Party (ANP) leader Arif Khan and others said the situation in the agency was "deteriorating", with more than 700 people killed in clashes over the last 28 months. 

They claimed the political administration was not taking action against the Taliban. The speakers told the APC that Taliban fleeing Swat, Orakzai Agency, North Waziristan and South Waziristan were entering Kurram Agency. They said that local and foreign Taliban were creating a law and order situation in the agency.

 source; http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=2009\06\29\story_29-6-2009_pg7_14

Visit

www.parachinar616.blogspot.com

 

view my profile

 

or join

Click to join

parachinar616

 

Monday, June 29, 2009

Home » Politics » Death toll 91 as Kurram clashes spread

Death toll 91 as Kurram clashes spread

PARACHINAR (Online) - The death toll in sectarian clashes between rival groups in various parts of the Kurram Agency has reached 91, with 175 people injured. 

Fierce clashes spread to parts of Lower Kurram and the two groups were consolidating their positions. The locals said influx of Taliban from Swat, Dir and other areas is worsening the situation. Sources said the fighting started in the region 12 days ago over a dispute on construction of bunkers in Khar Kali and Balishkhel. 
Both sides have been accusing each other of seeking assistance from outsiders. Local people said that fresh clashes had erupted in Balishkhel, Khar Kali, Sangina, Mangak, Kochi Para-chamkani and Kirman. Kurram Agency has seen frequent clashes over the past two years. 
Residents said that 'movement of the militants' in the area had caused sectarian clashes. The main road from Thall to Parachinar has been closed to traffic for the past five months, causing severe shortages of foods and medicines in Upper Kurram.

 SOURCE: http://www.nation.com.pk/pakistan-news-newspaper-daily-english-online/Politics/29-Jun-2009/Death-toll-91-as-Kurram-clashes-spread

Visit

www.parachinar616.blogspot.com

 

view my profile

 

or join

Click to join

parachinar616

 

Death toll in Kurram agency soars to 91

Death toll in Kurram agency soars to 91

PARACHINAR: The death toll in sectarian clashes between warring groups in various parts of the Kurram agency for last 13 days have increased to 91 while 175 injured have been injured so far.

Fierce clashes shook parts of Lower Kurram and the two groups were consolidating their positions. The locals said influx of Taliban from Swat, Dir and other areas is worsening the situation. Sources said, the fighting started in the region 12 days ago over a dispute on construction of bunkers in Khar Kali and Balishkhel.

Both sides have been accusing each other of seeking assistance from outsiders. Local people said that fresh clashes had erupted in Balishkhel, Khar Kali, Sangina, Mangak, Kochi Parachamkani and Kirman.

The Kurram agency has seen frequent clashes over the past two years. Residents said that 'movement of the militants' in the area had caused sectarian clashes.

The main road from Thall to Parachinar has been closed to traffic for the past five months, causing severe shortages of foodstuff and medicines in Upper Kurram.

SOURCE: http://www.onlinenews.com.pk/details.php?id=147502 

Visit

www.parachinar616.blogspot.com

 

view my profile

 

or join

Click to join

parachinar616

 

Kurram clashes leave 33 dead

Kurram clashes leave 33 dead

By Our Correspondent 
Sunday, 28 Jun, 2009 | 02:47 AM PST |

Sixty five people were also injured in sectarian clashes between warring groups in various parts of Lower Kurram.—AP

PROVINCES

Kurram jirga again fails to broker peace

PARACHINAR: At least 33 people were killed and 65 others injured in sectarian clashes between warring groups in various parts of the Kurram agency on Friday night and Saturday.

According to sources, fierce clashes shook parts of Lower Kurram and the two groups were consolidating their positions.

The local populace is bitter over the attitude of the administration, accusing it of giving a free hand to troublemakers.

Haji Rauf, a tribal leader in upper Kurram, said the local tribesmen had fought Taliban for more than two years.

'We have had over 700 young people martyred but have not allowed these militants to secure a toehold in upper Kurram. Now the influx of Taliban from Swat, Dir and other areas is worsening the situation.'
 
Haji Rauf called upon the government to launch an action similar to the one under way in Malakand. He extended the assurance that local tribesmen would stand 'shoulder to shoulder with our army and fight alongside our soldiers'.

Paramilitary forces deployed in different areas of the conflict-hit region have so far not acted, a group of affected people complained during conversation with journalists.

The fighting started in the region 12 days ago over a dispute on construction of bunkers in Khar Kali and Balishkhel.

There were unconfirmed reports about infiltration of outsiders from Waziristan and Hangu district, but could not be verified from independent sources. The 12-day long clashes have left about 89 people dead and 175 injured.

Both sides have been accusing each other of seeking assistance from outsiders. Local people said that fresh clashes had erupted in Balishkhel, Khar Kali, Sangina, Mangak, Kochi Parachamkani and Kirman.

Doctors said that out of 20 injured people brought to the agency headquarters hospital on Saturday, four died.

The Kurram agency has seen frequent clashes over the past two years. Residents said that 'movement of the militants' in the area had caused sectarian clashes.

The main road from Thall to Parachinar has been closed to traffic for the past five months, causing severe shortages of foodstuff and medicines in Upper Kurram.

 Source; http://www.dawn.com/wps/wcm/connect/dawn-content-library/dawn/news/pakistan/provinces/12-kurram+clashes+leave+33+dead--bi-07

Visit

www.parachinar616.blogspot.com

 

view my profile

 

or join

Click to join

parachinar616

 

13 killed in tribal clashes in Kurram

13 killed in tribal clashes in Kurram

LAHORE: Thirteen people have been killed in fresh clashes between Toori and Bangash tribes in Lower Kurram Agency, bringing the total death toll of the past 24 hours to 33, a private TV channel reported on Saturday. According to the channel, tribal clashes have claimed 89 lives in the last 12 days, injuring more than 165. Meanwhile, the people of Kurram continue to suffer from shortage of essential food items and medicines, due to the closure of the Thal-Parachanar road linking Kurram to the rest of the country. daily times monitor

 SOURCE: http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=2009\06\28\story_28-6-2009_pg7_12

Visit

www.parachinar616.blogspot.com

 

view my profile

 

or join

Click to join

parachinar616

 

Rs50m reward on Baitullah Mehsud’s arrest live/dead announced

	Rs50m reward on Baitullah Mehsud's arrest live/dead announced
	Updated at: 1015 PST, Sunday, June 28, 2009
	ISLAMABAD: Announcing rewards running into crores of rupees on the arrests of Baitullah Mehsud and his accomplices live or dead, eleven more most-wanted persons' ad has been released. The ads published in the newspapers announcing rewards on the arrests of most-wanted persons live or dead included three from South Waziristan, another three from Bajaur, two from Mohmand, two from Darra Adamkhel and one from Kurram Agency. A reward of Rs50 million has been announced for the arrest (dead or alive) of Baitullah Mehsud, according to the ad, while among others Bajaur's Molvi Faqir's head money has been fixed at Rs15 million besides the head money of Rs10 million each on the arrests (live or dead) of Abdul Wali of Mohmand Agency, Qari Shakeel of Mohmand Agency, Commander Tariq of darra Adamkhel, Hakimullah Mehsud and Qari Hussain of South Waziristan. Qari Ziaur Rahman of Bajaur, Fazal Saeed Utezai of Kurram Agency, Mufti Ilyas of Darra Adamkhel and Waliur Rahman of Bajaur's arrests would be rewarded Rs5 million each.  The government has released exclusive telephone numbers also for passing on information leading the arrests of most-wanted persons dead or alive.

 

SOURCE; http://www.thenews.com.pk/updates.asp?id=81621

Visit

www.parachinar616.blogspot.com

 

view my profile

 

or join

Click to join

parachinar616

 

Parachinar: Millitants fleeing From Waziristan to Lower Kurram

Jafaria News

Parachinar: Millitants fleeing From Waziristan to Lower Kurram

Written by jafarianews on June 27, 2009 under Pakistan News.

Taliban are continuously launching attacks on Shiite population in Parachinar. Once again clashed erupted when Taliban militants launched attacks from Waristan side in parts of village Mingak and AliZai in Lower Kurram Agency due to which 8 martyred and several injured. In retaliation many Taliban killed.
According to report when Taliban militants fired missiles & mortar shelling on Wednesday midnight, resulted a teenager boy along with two women and five children of Turi tribe killed in home at Village Kirman. Local tribes retaliated strongly so Taliban had no option but to flee away even leaving their three dead bodies on the spot. According to another source Shia youths hit-backed Taliban attack between Tuesday and Wednesday night and pushed back Taliban militants to their area till "Kuchey". Three youth martyred and several Taliban killed.

Taliban are continuously targeting Peoples in Parachinar .On 8th June they killed tribal elder Haji Ismel Hussain Turi belongs to AliZai Village of Lower Kurram was giving water to his fields, when the taliban millitants of Village Baghzi (whose boundries touches at point with Waziristan) opened fired upon him and fled away.

The fierce fighting continued from last Tuesday16.06.2009 between the Taliban milltants loyal to baitullah mahsud settled in Sadda Lower Kurram and local tribes of Balashkhel village of Upper Kurram with shelling of heavy weapons. While death toll reaches to 61 and more than 100 injured during a week long clashes according to independent and hospital sources

The situation in area is chronic and very tense but government is silent spectator instead of punishing the Taliban militants who violated the peace treaty for more than dozens time. According to sources of Political administration on condition of not to be named, the clashes spread due to arrival of hundreds Taliban loyal to Baitullah from Waziristan

Allama Muhammed Nawaz Irfani, the Khateeb Jamia Masjid Parachinar, addressing a press conference in the presence of tribal leaders in Parachinar, said: extremists are fleeing Waziristan to come into Kurram Agency and disrupting the peace of the agency. He said they had rendered sacrifices for clearing the upper Kurram areas of the militants, but their presence in the lower and central parts of the agency was still a threat to peace. "The militants had been attacking Balishkhel and other areas but the government has turned a blind eye towards this sensitive situation," he told media.

SOURCE: http://jafarianews.com/en/?p=624 

Visit

www.parachinar616.blogspot.com

 

view my profile

 

or join

Click to join

parachinar616