Six bodies, stuffed in sacks, were discovered Friday in Kurram district, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, igniting outrage among tribal leaders who blamed the government for failing to provide security. In response to the discovery, they declared the end of a fragile peace agreement that had temporarily eased tensions in the volatile region of Kurram district.
Police reported that the bodies, showing signs of severe torture and gunshot wounds, were found in two locations near Lower Kurram’s Orwali area. These victims were among the drivers who had disappeared earlier this week when gunmen ambushed a 35-vehicle convoy transporting food and medical supplies to Parachinar. The convoy had been cleared to proceed from Thall but was attacked in the Bagan area, which had not signed the peace deal.
The ambush on the convoy left two security escorts dead, nine injured, and several drivers abducted. The attackers set the vehicles on fire and took the hostages to an undisclosed location. On Friday, six of the missing drivers were found dead, including Imran Ali, Hassan Ali, Shahid Ali, and Tanveer Abbas, according to Kurram district police.
The killings have caused renewed turmoil in the region. Tribal elders, pointing to the government’s failure to ensure law and order, announced the termination of the peace accord, which had been brokered through a grand jirga. The agreement had temporarily halted fighting between rival groups and led to the dismantling of bunkers in tribal areas.
“The government has failed us,” said one elder, speaking to local media. “We will no longer honor an agreement that hasn’t brought security to our people.”
Kurram district, which borders Afghanistan, has long been a hotspot for sectarian violence and tribal conflicts. The latest unrest follows a July incident in Bagan that killed over 40 people, triggering retaliatory attacks and leaving Parachinar and surrounding areas cut off with blocked roads and severe shortages of food and medicine.
Authorities had hoped the peace accord would bring stability, but Friday’s discovery dashed those hopes. “This is a major blow to our efforts,” a senior police officer said. “The killings have reignited hostilities, and the humanitarian crisis is worsening.”
The victims’ bodies were moved to Alizai Hospital for autopsy, and police are actively investigating to identify those responsible. Meanwhile, the security situation in Kurram district remains tense, with tribal leaders warning of further violence if justice is not served swiftly.
