Law enforcement personnel launched an operation in Lower Kurram on Sunday after a high-level meeting of the Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (KP) government decided to take strict action against miscreants in the restive district.

Officials in Peshawar said security forces would be present to assist the police and civil administration in the operation against miscreants. It was stated that three places in Kurram – Bagan, Mandori and Chaperi – would be cleared during the operation.

Locals began to move to safer places as authorities imposed a curfew in the Bagan area and launched a search operation, days after a brutal attack on an aid convoy in which a number of people were abducted and six of them subsequently killed.

Security forces, assisted by the Kurram police, have surrounded four villages in Bagan and taken up positions on the main road. The operation is carried out at specific locations identified by intelligence agencies.

Armored vehicles and other vehicles are advancing and security forces have taken control of the bunkers established in the area. Residents have been instructed to remain indoors and orders have been given to shoot any criminals observed in the area.

Before the start of the operation, a high-level meeting was held in Peshawar on the situation in Kurram, attended by Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (KP) government spokesperson, KP chief secretary, inspector general of police (IGP) and other civil and police officers. .

The meeting decided to take strict action against the criminals without discrimination. A statement issued after the meeting said the spokesman reiterated the government’s decision to bring “cruel elements” to justice.

“An action against miscreants in the affected areas has become inevitable. The peace agreement will be implemented in accordance with the law and Pashtun traditions,” he said.

Kurram has long been plagued by decades-old sectarian clashes, which have escalated into land disputes and claimed at least 140 lives since November 2024. On January 1, however, the warring tribesmen signed an agreement under the auspices of a tribal jirga.

According to the peace agreement, local residents promised to surrender their weapons to the state in different phases within 15 days, while the dismantling of local bunkers must be completed by February 2025.

However, on January 4, a convoy of former Kurram Deputy Commissioner Javedullah Mehsud came under attack near Bagan area, resulting in injuries to the official and six members of his escort.

On 13 January, the provincial government dismantled two bunkers out of hundreds established by the two warring factions, but on 16 January, unidentified gunmen launched a rocket attack on a convoy of 35 vehicles carrying fruit, vegetables, medicine and other essential items from Thall to Thall. Bagan area.

The criminal also abducted a number of people who were part of the convoy and a day later dead bodies of six of them were discovered in the Aravali area of ​​Kurram with their hands and feet tied. The authorities later announced that they would launch an operation.

According to the KP government spokesperson, security forces will be present in support to assist the police and civil administration in the operation against miscreants.

The government, he said, is of the view that some miscreants have infiltrated among the peaceful people and steps will be taken to separate peaceful elements from miscreants.

“Best alternative accommodation arrangements have been made for the people of the affected areas. The government requests both parties to the Kurram Peace Accord to assist the law enforcement agencies in identifying the criminals in their midst.”

The spokesman said that the KP government has been trying to restore peace in Kurram amicably for the past three months. But in a dastardly attempt, the miscreants attacked the Deputy Commissioner. The criminals are also targeting security forces personnel and relief convoys.

The spokesman urged people to cooperate fully with the security forces in the affected areas.

“The government will soon eliminate the miscreants from the affected areas and restore peace in the area. The government has tried its best to restore peace as per the peace agreement, the people of Kurram want peace and respect and abide by the peace agreement.” he added.

Meanwhile, the provincial government’s MI-17 helicopter on Sunday made four flights to the Parachiner area of ​​Kurram, transporting a total of 133 individuals.

The first flight carried 3,000 kg of medicine along with four people to Parachinar. The second flight transported 44 individuals from Parachinar to Thall, while the third flight brought 34 individuals from Thall to Parachinar. The fourth and final flight transported 35 individuals from Parachinar to Peshawar.

“On the special directives of the KP Chief Minister, various supplies were sent on Sunday to protect Kurram residents from cold. These included 500 tents, 1,000 mattresses, 1,000 blankets, 500 plastic mats, 500 tarpaulin sheets, 100 searchlights, 100 solar lamps, and other essentials.

“The Chief Minister noted that the provincial government is well aware of the difficulties faced by the people of the region due to the closure of land routes to Kurram.

“He assured that the provincial government is using all available resources to minimize these hardships. He further stated that the helicopter service will continue until the situation in Kurram normalizes and land routes are restored,” an official statement said.