First relief convoy for Kurram to depart from Tal today after months-long blockade
Curfew imposed on main highway to ensure security for passage of convoy loaded with vital goods
- Ashfaq Khan appointed as new deputy commissioner of Kurram.
- Section 144 imposed in Kurram district amid heightened tension.
- Crackdown underway to arrest suspects involved in attack.
An aid convoy of over 80 trucks loaded with fruits, vegetables, poultry, and other essential items is set to depart from Tall to the crisis-hit Kurram district today (Monday) under tight security.
This comes after days of delay caused by a violent attack in Bagan that injured Kurram Deputy Commissioner Javedullah Mehsud and six others, including security personnel and civilians.
The incident has heightened tensions in the region, prompting the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government to impose Section 144, banning public gatherings and the display of weapons to prevent further unrest.
The convoy, originally scheduled to deliver goods on January 4, had been stranded in Tal following the attack. To ensure the safe passage of the convoy, authorities have announced a curfew along the main highway during its transit.
Meanwhile, Ashfaq Khan has been appointed as the new deputy commissioner of Kurram, replacing Mehsud, who is receiving treatment for gunshot wounds.
In light of the violence, a crackdown operation is underway to apprehend suspects involved in the attack, with two individuals already detained and moved to an undisclosed location for interrogation.
A high-level meeting in Kohat has decided to register terrorism cases against those supporting the perpetrators of the January 4 incident and hold tribal elders accountable for implementing the Kurram peace agreement.
In Parachinar, the people continued to protest against the shortage of goods, including food and medicines, due to the closure of roads leading to Kurram.
The unrest has also sparked a protest sit-in near Mandoori in Lower Kurram, where demonstrators have demanded the full implementation of the apex committee’s decisions.
These include disarmament of both conflicting parties, dismantling of bunkers, and compensation for business losses caused by the three-month closure of transit routes.
As the situation remains tense but under control, the government has emphasised its commitment to restoring peace and normalcy in the region.
The Kurram region has been wracked by tribal violence for decades, but around 140 people have been killed since a fresh bout of fighting broke out in November.
As feuding tribes have battled with machine guns and heavy weapons, the remote and mountainous region bordering Afghanistan has been largely cut off from the outside world.
The months-long blockade of roads has left residents of Parachinar and surrounding areas in dire need of essential supplies.
After a truce was called on January 1, the convoy was attacked as it travelled to collect the first aid delivery of food and medicine sent by road since November, officials said.
