Kurram: Authorities in Kurram district have ramped up efforts to demolish bunkers belonging to rival factions, with 253 structures already dismantled as part of an ongoing peace enforcement initiative, media reported on Sunday.
According to district officials, the operation is being carried out under the Kohat peace agreement to ensure lasting stability in the region.
So far, 117 bunkers have been removed in Lower Kurram, while 136 have been destroyed in Upper Kurram. Officials confirmed that the process will continue until all illegal structures are removed. Deputy Commissioner Kurram reaffirmed that strict implementation of the Kohat peace accord remains a priority, emphasising that all necessary steps will be taken to maintain order in the district.
Moreover, as the search-and-strike operation continues in Kurram, security forces have arrested 57 terrorists and recovered looted goods along with a large cache of weapons.According to Kohat RPO Abbas Majeed Marwat, the arrested individuals were involved in an attack on a convoy carrying essential food supplies.
Meanwhile, authorities have intensified efforts to collect weapons from local residents in Mandori, Ochat and Charkhel.
Under the Kurram peace agreement, weapons from both the conflicting sides were to be surrendered. Initially, unlicenced arms were collected from Bagan and surrounding areas.
Earlier, Pakistan has shut the Torkham border crossing with Afghanistan after Afghan Taliban authorities began “construction of trenches and other development work” near the frontier, a senior Pakistani police official said on Sunday.
The crossing was closed late Friday night, suspending all pedestrian and trade movement between the two neighbouring countries, though no skirmishes have been reported. “It [Torkham crossing] is closed both for pedestrians and heavy vehicles since 12 at night on Feb. 21. No firing is reported from either side,” said Naheed Khan, a senior police official in Pakistan’s Khyber district.
Residents of Bacha Mina, a village near the border on the Pakistani side, have begun leaving for safer locations as a precaution, while some loaded trucks have returned to Jamrud Bazaar, according to Khan.
There has been no immediate response from Afghan authorities regarding the closure.
The move comes amid rising tensions between Pakistan and Afghanistan over a surge in militant attacks in Pakistan. Islamabad has repeatedly accused Kabul of harbouring militant groups that launch cross-border attacks, a claim Afghan officials deny. In recent months, border disputes have led to the closure of key crossings, severely disrupting trade and movement. In August, the Torkham border was shut for three days after the Afghan Taliban accused Pakistani fighter jets of violating Afghan airspace. –Agencies
