January 21, 2025
By Mustafa Khan
PARACHINAR
Following a series of terrorist incidents on the main highway in Kurram district, security forces have launched an operation targeting militant hideouts in areas such as Bagan, Uchhat Charkhel, and Mandori in Lower Kurram. The operation is being supported by gunship helicopters and heavy artillery.
On the other hand, residents in over 100 villages across Upper and Lower Kurram, including the district headquarters of Parachinar, remain stranded due to road closures. The besieged population of approximately 500,000 is facing acute shortages of food and medical supplies.
Haji Imdad, President of the Parachinar Traders Association, reported that local markets have been shuttered after running out of essential commodities. Tribal elder Agha Tajammul emphasized the urgent need to reopen and secure transportation routes to alleviate the hardships faced by the local population.
‘Operation aimed at terrorists’
Kohat Commissioner Mutasim Billah Shah, clarified that the operation was aimed specifically at terrorists and not the civilian population. Abbas Majeed, Deputy Inspector General of Police in Kohat, announced that relief camps have been established in Hangu’s Muhammad Khawaja and Thall areas to accommodate those displaced by the operation. Authorities assured that all efforts are being made to minimize harm to civilians.
The operation has targeted terrorist strongholds in Bagan, Uchhat Mandori, and Jarana in Central Kurram, with ground troops and air support actively engaged. The district administration remains hopeful that transportation routes will be reopened and secured shortly.
A curfew imposed on January 19 remains in effect in Bagan and surrounding areas, forcing many families to flee to Thall in Hangu via Chapri Phattak. Locals reported aerial strikes by gunship helicopters on suspected militant hideouts in Pastwani, Manddara, Sangrobba, and Jarana. No casualties among the militants have been reported so far.
Sources involved in the operation revealed that weapons would be confiscated in phases under the terms of a peace agreement signed on January 1. Bunkers used by the militants are also being demolished. Officials have pledged a non-discriminatory approach in targeting miscreants to ensure long-term peace in the district.
Despite appeals from local elders to postpone the operation due to harsh winter conditions, authorities decided to proceed, citing the urgency of restoring peace. Displaced families have raised concerns about the cold weather and the lack of adequate facilities in camps.
Displacement in Kurram
According to official figures, 14 families, comprising 91 individuals, have migrated from Bagan to Thall in anticipation of the operation. The Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA) has sent 23 trucks loaded with relief items, including 500 tents, 1,000 mattresses, and food supplies, to Hangu. These essentials were handed over to the local administration for distribution.