The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government on Monday announced its decision to classify individuals responsible for spreading sectarian hatred in the volatile Kurram district as terrorists, with plans to take stringent legal action against them.

This move follows a briefing in a provincial cabinet meeting chaired by Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur outlining the government’s approach to addressing the ongoing unrest in the region.

The briefing revealed alarming statistics: 133 lives have been lost, and 177 people have sustained injuries in various incidents of violence in Kurram. The region - long troubled by sectarian tensions - has witnessed escalating hostility in recent months. The provincial government is now focusing on resolving the issue through a combination of legal action, security measures, and community engagement.

Grand jirga

The provincial administration has initiated the formation of a grand jirga—a traditional council of local elders—tasked with ensuring a peaceful and sustainable resolution to the crisis.

The jirga will remain operational in Kurram until the situation stabilizes and lasting peace is restored. Local leaders have been urged to cooperate in identifying the individuals fueling sectarian violence.

The provincial cabinet stressedthat the conflict in Kurram is not an act of terrorism but rather the result of malicious elements exacerbating tensions between two sects.

Chief Minister Gandapur highlighted the necessity of a ceasefire to bring about long-term peace.

Crackdown on sectarian instigators

To address the root cause of the unrest, the government has decided to declare the individuals responsible for inciting hatred and violence as terrorists. These individuals will be placed on Schedule Four, a designation in Pakistan's anti-terrorism laws that allows authorities to closely monitor and restrict their activities.

The government has vowed to act decisively against these elements, viewing them as a direct threat to the stability of the region.

“The people causing this chaos are not simply engaged in local disputes but are spreading hatred and inciting murder and destruction. They will be treated as terrorists,” Gandapur stated during the briefing.

Security and humanitarian aid

In addition to the crackdown on sectarian instigators, the provincial government has called for the deployment of the Frontier Constabulary (FC) to Kurram to bolster security efforts.

A formal request has been sent to the federal government for the reinforcements. Meanwhile, compensation will be provided to the victims of the violence, and efforts are underway to facilitate the return of families who fled Kurram due to the insecurity.

To alleviate the humanitarian crisis in the area, Chief Minister Gandapur also suggested the use of helicopters to deliver essential medicines to the district, where there is a severe shortage of medical supplies.