Kurram, a region that has long witnessed conflict between different sectarian groups, is now caught in the aftermath of a peace deal. But while reports from the government and local media tout the resolution of conflict and a restoration of calm, many in the region are left wondering: what peace? The public suffering continues unabated—prices for basic goods are skyrocketing, essential supplies are scarce, and displaced families remain stranded in overcrowded camps.
For all the talk of peace, the reality on the ground paints a different picture. Behind the façade of calm, two major religious factions and powerful business elites appear to have negotiated a deal that benefits their interests more than the needs of the average Kurram resident. The road to recovery for Kurram seems to be paved with economic exploitation, where monopolies control essential goods, and the government’s efforts are more about managing power than addressing the public’s pain. Far from a sustainable peace, this is a peace that seems to be serving only the powerful few while the majority suffer.
The Government’s Complicity and the Failure of Peace
The Pakistani government has largely failed to address the root causes of instability in Kurram. Its peace process, touted as a major achievement, has been nothing more than a façade, one that largely serves to maintain the status quo and appease powerful groups. While the government claims success in stabilizing Kurram, this narrative rings hollow when you consider the daily realities faced by its residents. Despite the government's insistence that peace has been restored, there is little to no investment in infrastructure, healthcare, or education.
Kurram's roads remain dilapidated, hospitals are under-resourced, and schools have been left in ruins, with little effort made to rebuild. The lack of government accountability is not just negligence; it is an active contributor to the economic stranglehold on Kurram. Instead of addressing the monopolistic practices that stifle the local economy, the government turns a blind eye, allowing groups like the Anjuman-e-Hussainia and Anjuman-e-Farooqia to consolidate power through control of vital resources, including trade routes and the movement of displaced populations.
This governmental inaction directly benefits these groups, whose control over essential services and supplies has deepened their influence. Local families who rely on these supplies are caught in a vicious cycle: inflation soars and basic goods become unaffordable. In a place where petrol prices have reached 1,100 rupees per liter and sugar prices have skyrocketed from 8,000 to 14,000 rupees per bag, the average resident is forced to choose between food, medicine, and fuel.
Monopoly and Exploitation – A Deal Between Elites
Kurram is a region where the line between religion and politics is often blurred, and the region's religious organizations have become key players in the power dynamics. The Anjuman-e-Hussainia (Shia) and the Anjuman-e-Farooqia (Sunni) have wielded significant influence over the years, but their roles today are far from neutral. Both groups are now deeply entrenched in the economic and political affairs of the region, often to the detriment of the ordinary people they purport to serve.
The Anjuman-e-Hussainia has secured a monopoly over the Tall-Parachinar road, one of the most critical arteries for the flow of goods into and out of the region. Only trucks affiliated with this group are allowed passage, turning what should be a free and open road into a tollgate for basic commodities. The consequences of this control are dire for residents: a bag of sugar, once a staple, has become unaffordable to many, selling for prices twice its normal cost. Meanwhile, fuel prices have surged beyond the reach of most families, putting an even greater strain on those struggling to survive.
Not to be outdone, the Anjuman-e-Farooqia has carved out its monopoly over the displaced populations of Kurram. As thousands of people have fled violence, they have found refuge in displacement camps—camps that are controlled by this Sunni group. What should be a haven for the vulnerable has instead become another tool for exploitation. Families displaced by sectarian violence find themselves at the mercy of religious leaders who control access to food, shelter, and aid. Even basic supplies are not free, with families paying high fees for food and water—fees that are well beyond their means.
The Helicopter Economy- A Symbol of Privilege
While the masses are forced to suffer in displacement camps or endure inflated prices, those who are connected to the powerful elite can circumvent these difficulties with ease. One of the most glaring examples of this divide is the helicopter economy—an economy where those with money and power can bypass the region's failures.
Helicopter airlifts have become the preferred mode of transport for the elite, and they come at a steep price. In one case, a man whose overseas visa was about to expire had to pay 200,000 rupees just to secure a helicopter flight from Parachinar to Peshawar. For the wealthy, the helicopter ride is nothing more than an inconvenient cost; for ordinary citizens, it is a symbol of a system rigged against them.
Aid organizations, too, are affected by this economy. Those attempting to deliver humanitarian aid to remote parts of Kurram must contend with inflated transport costs. Humanitarian workers, unable to afford helicopter services, find themselves at a dead end, unable to reach those most in need. In a region that relies heavily on external aid, this is nothing short of disastrous.
Displacement and the Human Cost of Control
The human cost of Kurram's instability is immeasurable. Displaced families face not just physical displacement, but also trauma, psychological stress, and a loss of livelihood. Children who once attended school now struggle to survive in overcrowded camps with limited access to education. Adults, once employed in agriculture or trade, now rely on aid and charity to survive, often finding themselves at the mercy of local religious groups that control the distribution of food and supplies.
The long-term effects of this displacement are far-reaching. The children of Kurram’s displaced families are at risk of being denied education, while adults face an uncertain future. The loss of livelihood is compounded by the psychological toll of living in perpetual uncertainty. This ongoing trauma only adds to the wider societal division that fuels the region’s sectarian conflicts.
Yet the powerful groups—whether religious, political, or militant—continue to thrive, profiting from this instability and reaping the rewards of their control over the region. By monopolizing essential services, controlling access to displacement camps, and benefiting from the region's economic stranglehold, these groups have made the suffering of the population a profitable business.
A "Peace" Built on Exploitation
While the peace deal is celebrated by the government and certain factions, the reality on the ground is that the peace is nothing more than a smokescreen for the entrenched power structures that dominate Kurram. The so-called peace process has done little to address the root causes of conflict—it has only served to cement the hold of those in power. Ordinary residents of Kurram have no stake in this peace; their daily lives are marked by economic hardship, displacement, and violence.
The peace process has failed to challenge the monopolistic practices that have destroyed the region's economy and deepened the divide between the powerful and the powerless. Instead of building a sustainable peace that benefits all, the current system has made peace a commodity—one to be bought, sold, and controlled by those who already hold the power.
Kurram’s so-called peace is, at its core, a deal for the powerful, not the people. While political elites, religious leaders, and militant groups vie for control over the region’s resources, the average citizen is left to pick up the pieces of a fractured and unequal society. Until the government acts to dismantle these power structures and rebuild Kurram’s infrastructure for the benefit of all, peace will remain elusive—available only to those who can afford it.
