Daily Times

By the time of writing this editorial on Thursday evening, the number of innocent passengers killed for being their destination Kurram district, was 38. By the time, you are reading this piece the number would have gone up. Kurram’s Shia-majority population has been a repeated target of sectarian violence for decades. The bloodshed shows the deep-rooted sectarian divide that militants exploit. The area has been turned into a symbol of suffering and resistance.

The community in Kurram has faced unrelenting atrocities over the years. Attacks on convoys, markets and mosques have claimed countless lives. In 2008, the region suffered one of its darkest periods during a sectarian conflict. Several dozens were killed and thousands suffered displacement. There has been several peace jirgas, but after a few months, bloodshed revisits the area. There have been several military interventions, but the cycle of violence continues. The militant groups operating in the region often fled to Afghanistan. Weak governance and porous borders always benefit the attackers.

This heinous attack, targeting unarmed civilians, is nothing short of barbaric. The victims include women, children and innocent passengers. This inhumane act must be condemned in the strongest terms. Such incidents not only devastate families but also deepen the rift in an already polarised society. It is imperative for authorities to act decisively, bringing the perpetrators to justice and ensuring such horrors are not repeated.

The history of violence in Kurram cannot be ignored. It is a reflection of the state’s failure to protect vulnerable communities. The fragile peace in the region has repeatedly been disrupted by militant outfits like the banned Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP). The recent uptick in terrorist activities in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan, particularly after the TTP ended its ceasefire with the government in 2022, indicates a deteriorating security situation.

President Asif Ali Zardari has condemned the attack. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif issued a stern warning to militants. The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government has shared its part of lip service. Their calls for justice are timely. However, words alone are insufficient. Concrete action is needed to dismantle the networks that enable such violence. Please take enhanced security measures for the residents. Please arrange better intelligence sharing. Please listen to the local communities. Please do something. Kurram deserves peace. *