Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Tuesday expressed hope for lasting peace in the violence-torn Kurram district after witnessing gradual improvement in a peace deal between warring factions as a second aid convoy entered the affected parts today. “The situation is gradually improving in Kurram. There was a huge setback after the peace deal, but [the situation is better now],” Prime Minister Shehbaz said while talking to members of the federal cabinet in Islamabad. The prime minister also lamented the setback as just a day after the signing of the peace accord, unknown persons fired at a government vehicle, injuring Deputy Commissioner Kurram Javedullah Mehsud and several law enforcers. As a result of the attack, trucks scheduled to leave for the crisis-hit region were stopped. However, as the law and order situation permitted, trucks were dispatched to the district. Tal left the second humanitarian aid convoy today. “Bunkers are also being dismantled. Medicines and food supplies are also being sent there,” the prime minister said, calling it a “positive development”. Prime Minister Shehbaz hoped that all parties concerned would come together to ensure peace, oversee talks between the warring groups and also try to ensure that similar incidents do not recur. In a related development, a second convoy of 25 vehicles carrying essential goods reached Kurram district of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa today, the local administration confirmed. However, 20 other vehicles did not get permission and were sent back to Tal. The development marks the successful delivery of another consignment of essential items including flour, sugar, ghee and medicines to the affected parts of Kurram district, which have remained in the limelight for months after a wave of tribal violence claimed over 130 lives and resulted in route closures for more than 100 days. The essential commodities will be distributed in various areas of the district including Parachinar, Boshehra, Alizai and other affected regions. Authorities have put strict security measures in place to ensure the safe delivery of these much-needed supplies. The supply of medicines and essential goods to the affected areas is expected to ease the shortage to some extent, the district administration said. The provincial government has also started implementing measures to restore peace, including the liquidation of bunkers in Lower Kurram as part of the Kohat Peace Agreement. Bunkers in areas such as Khar Kali and Balishkhel were cleared using explosives and air support during joint operations by the police and security forces. These actions were in accordance with the 14-point agreement negotiated by tribal elders. Steps for education Prime Minister Shehbaz also called for proactive steps to address issues in the education sector during the cabinet meeting. The Prime Minister asked the Minister of Education to closely coordinate education support with the provinces, stressing that it would be a major national service. The prime minister pointed out that 22.8 million children, the majority of whom are girls, are out of school in Pakistan. Referring to the international conference on girls’ education held in Islamabad recently, the prime minister noted that there were good discussions on girls’ education. He recalled that Pakistan had also declared an education emergency a few months ago. PM Shehbaz termed the resumption of PIA flights to Europe as a great success. He expressed confidence that flights to Britain would also be resumed and said it would make it easier for Pakistani passengers. Shehbaz said a new border crossing has been opened on the Pak-Iran border at Panjgur, which he said will boost legal trade and help check smuggling. He thanked the Iranian cooperation for the opening of the new border crossing. The prime minister said security forces are continuing operations against Fitna al-Khwarij. He said an intelligence operation in Balochistan resulted in the killing of 27 terrorists. He paid tribute to the sacrifices of security personnel and said that these sacrifices will be remembered. He expressed determination to completely eliminate Fitna al-Khwarij and emphasized that peace will be restored in the country as it was in 2018 under the leadership of Nawaz Sharif.
