Another convoy of trucks carrying essential items reached Kurram on Friday. Consisting of 70 trucks, this convoy is the fifth to reach the district and is biggest to date.

According to Hangu Deputy Commissioner Gohar Zaman Wazir the trucks set off from Torpal checkpost towards Kurram. Strict security arrangements were made for the passage of the convoy.

The trucks carried fruit, vegetables, ghee, sugar, chicken, eggs and other essential items. The items are direly needed in Parachinar and surrounding areas, where shops and hospitals have closed due to a shortage of supplies.

After remaining cutoff from the rest of the country for three months, the first convoy of aid had managed to reach the area on January 8.

However, the process of transporting goods had been disrupted once again on January 16 when a convoy of 35 trucks was ambushed near Baggan. This had led to the closure of the main road leading into the district and supply of aid was suspended.

Authorities responded with a search and clearance operation in four village councils of Lower Kurram, claiming to confiscate a large cache of arms and ammunition. The operation lasted from January 19 to 21 and resulted in the temporary displacement of dozens of families.

After the operation, a convoy of 61 vehicles was despatched to Kurram on January 22 under heavy security. Friday’s convoy is the second since the operation took place and fifth overall.

After months of armed clashes between Shia and Sunni tribes in the region, the provincial government had managed to broker a deal between the warring parties. The tribes had agreed to end the fighting, demolish bunkers and hand over any violators to the government.

After the latest operation, officials have once again expressed optimism that peace and normalcy will return to the region after the operation. The provincial government had reaffirmed that efforts will be made implement the Grand Jirga agreement from early January and that miscreants will be dealt with resolute force. The process of demolishing bunkers in the area will also resume soon.