November 11, 2024
By Asmatullah Niazi
The Thall-Parachinar Road is not only a transportation route, but a vital lifeline for Parachinar, a picturesque town in Pakistan’s Kurram District. This road serves as the primary access route for hundreds of thousands of residents to essential services, goods, and communication with the rest of the country. Recently, however, the road was shut down for nearly a month following widespread rioting and protests. This closure underscored deep-rooted issues in the region, exacerbating a humanitarian crisis for residents already vulnerable to violence and restricted movement.
The Deputy Commissioner of Kurram District – which was formerly part of the Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA) on the Pakistan-Afghanistan border – justified the closure as a necessary measure to safeguard lives. Warring tribal, ethnic, and sectarian factions, along with insurgent groups, had intensified attacks on travelers along the road. Violent clashes left several civilians dead and others severely injured while traveling toward Parachinar, their vehicles often attacked indiscriminately by militant factions who still continue to vie for territorial control.
This recent wave of violence in the region is far from an isolated one. Kurram District has faced consistent violence over the decades due to sectarian tensions and insurgency, particularly from Taliban-aligned groups. The local administration frequently struggles to maintain order, often choosing to suspend daily activities and implement roadblocks as a temporary security measure rather than addressing underlying problems. This approach has become increasingly common in Pakistan, where the district administration closes down roads, markets, and even schools to prevent further violence. However, such temporary solutions only highlight the lack of a long-term strategy to achieve any kind of sustainable peace.
The road has now been partially reopened, allowing some semblance of normalcy for Parachinar’s residents after a harrowing month of isolation. However, this reopening is only a small relief, as the deeply entrenched issues driving violence in the area remain unresolved. The humanitarian impact of the road’s closure has underscored the urgent need for permanent and comprehensive solutions to bring stability to Kurram District.
Persistent Sectarian Tensions in Kurram
The Thall-Parachinar road closure has not only drawn attention to the immediate safety concerns but has also exposed the longstanding sectarian divisions that continue to disrupt life in Kurram.
As a district strategically positioned on the Afghanistan border, Kurram has been a focal point of sectarian violence, particularly between Sunni and Shia communities. It is a two part district, with Upper Kurram which is on the border of Afghanistan, dominated by Shias by mainly the Turi and Bangash tribes. They have been anti-Taliban since the rise of Talibanisation in the region and were allegedly supported by Iranian supported Hizbullah and the Mehdi Malatia.
Meanwhile Lower Kurram is dominated by the Sunni tribes like Mangal, Moqbil, Para Chamkani, and Ali Sherzai, among others and they have reportedly been receiving support from militant groups like Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), Lashkar-e-Jhangvi (LeJ), Sipah-i-Sahaba (SSP), Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT), Al-Qaida, and Haqqani fighters. Conflict in this area dates back to the 1930s, often peaking during the holy months of Muharram and Nowruz (the Persian New Year), both significant observances in Shia culture.
Tensions between the Sunni and Shia communities were further inflamed after the Iranian revolution in 1979, when Iranian-backed groups began to allegedly support local Shia communities in the area. This spurred backlash from Pakistan’s government, especially under General Zia ul Haq, who held power from 1977 to 1988. Zia’s administration is remembered for its aggressive policies that intensified ethnic and sectarian divides throughout Pakistan. His regime aimed to counter perceive Iranian influence in strategic regions, including Kurram, where he implemented measures that widened the rift between Sunni and Shia communities. Many locals believe this sectarian divide was deliberately amplified as part of Zia’s broader regional strategy.
The result has been a legacy of hostility and mistrust that remains embedded in the social fabric of Kurram District. Sectarian fault lines in the area are further aggravated by both external influences and the presence of militant factions, which exploit these divisions to advance their own agendas.
Militant Influences in Kurram
Today, the Haqqani network, a powerful faction within the Taliban-led Afghan government, is one of the most significant militant influences in Kurram. Known for its swift and lethal terrorist tactics, the Haqqani network has sought control of parts of Kurram to secure a safe haven, avoiding counter-terrorism operations targeting Taliban groups and evading US drone attacks in the region. In their research paper, Jeffrey Dressler and Reza Jan highlight Kurram’s “special importance” for Afghan-focused insurgent groups. They argue that, with support from certain local actors, the Haqqani network has intensified its focus on Kurram as a base for future operations.
Additionally, Iranian-backed groups have also been implicated in the area, particularly in support of the local Shia communities. Among them, the Al-Zainabiyoun Brigade, an Iran-backed Shia militia, is reportedly active. Created to protect the Sayyidah Zainab shrine near Damascus during the Islamic State insurgency, the Al-Zainabiyoun Brigade recruits heavily from Shia communities in Parachinar and other parts of Pakistan. This militia is alleged to receive direct or indirect support from Iran, with the aim of strengthening Shia influence in the area and countering Sunni militant groups.
The involvement of these militias and insurgent groups has escalated violence in Kurram, amplifying tensions and frequently resulting in deadly skirmishes. Civilians remain caught in the crossfire of these conflicts, with few avenues for protection. The military presence in the area has been unable to secure peace, and local communities face mounting humanitarian challenges as a result of the ongoing instability.
Humanitarian Crisis and Rights Violations
The Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) reports that despite multiple ceasefire agreements, violence continues to plague Kurram. According to HRCP data, the conflict has taken a significant toll on civilians, with 49 people killed and at least 190 injured in July 2023 alone. The violence has continued despite efforts by tribal elders and local authorities to negotiate peace agreements. In September 2023, another 21 lives were lost, followed by 11 more in October, including women and children. This persistent violence highlights the area’s inability to achieve any sustained period of peace.
Expressing serious concern, the HRCP has called for an investigation into the continued flow of arms into the region. The presence of heavily armed, well-trained fighters suggests that local rival factions have access to sophisticated weaponry, pointing to the state’s inability to control arms supplies in Kurram. The HRCP has stressed that the government must fulfill its duty to protect citizens, hold perpetrators accountable, and pursue serious negotiations with all stakeholders to bring an end to the violence.
While these conflicts rage on, ordinary residents in Kurram suffer from a lack of basic necessities. The closure of the Thall-Parachinar road—a vital link connecting Parachinar to Peshawar and the rest of Pakistan—represents a severe deprivation of their rights. The road’s closure disrupts access to food, healthcare, education, and other essential services, effectively isolating the community and leaving residents in a dire state.
For many, the closure of this road was more than an inconvenience; it was a violation of fundamental human rights. As the HRCP has argued, every community has the right to access basic services and to live in security. Yet, the continued instability in Kurram deprives residents of these basic rights, making the need for a permanent solution all the more urgent.
Path to Peace
The crisis in Kurram cannot be resolved through temporary road closures or isolated ceasefire agreements. What the region needs is a sustainable peace strategy that addresses the root causes of conflict: sectarian divides, militant influence, and the unchecked flow of arms. This requires a negotiated settlement among tribal leaders, government authorities, and, crucially, an uncompromising and indiscriminate crackdown on militant groups.
Only by taking these steps can the government hope to restore lasting peace in Kurram, secure safe access to critical routes like the Thall-Parachinar road, and ensure the safety and well-being of its residents. The people of Kurram have endured decades of violence and deprivation; they deserve a future free from fear and a community that is connected, safe, and thriving.
Asmatullah Niazi is a prominent Pakistani journalist and columnist.