By Khalid Khan
The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) government’s announcement of a three-day mourning period for the Islamabad tragedy has drawn sharp criticism, with many questioning the silence over the ongoing violence in Kurram district. While official condolences pour in for Islamabad’s victims, Kurram continues to burn, with hundreds dead in a crisis that has spiraled into a humanitarian disaster.
Kurram district remains a battleground, its people caught in the crossfire of sectarian violence and militant attacks. Villages have been reduced to rubble, families uprooted, and lives shattered. For weeks, residents have pleaded for help, but their calls have been met with indifference. The absence of any significant action from the provincial government has left the region vulnerable to further chaos.
Critics argue that the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI)-led KP government has prioritized political theatrics over public welfare. Reports indicate that millions of rupees from provincial resources have been funneled into political campaigns, rallies, and other partisan activities. Meanwhile, KP’s infrastructure crumbles, schools and hospitals are starved of funds, and the public bears the brunt of inflation and unemployment.
The situation in Kurram has exposed the human cost of this negligence. Children are growing up amid trauma, deprived of education and stability. Women and the elderly, forced to flee their homes, now live in dire conditions with no assistance in sight. The conflict has devastated the local economy, destroying markets and severing vital trade routes that once linked the region to the rest of the province.
As Kurram suffers, terrorism resurges across KP. From targeted attacks on security personnel to bombings in urban centers, the province is once again under siege. Yet the provincial leadership remains preoccupied with Islamabad-centric politics, offering little more than symbolic gestures while its own districts descend into turmoil.
This neglect underscores a broader policy failure. Kurram’s crisis demands immediate action—dialogue with tribal elders, the rebuilding of infrastructure, and a robust security strategy. The government must also reassess its spending priorities, redirecting resources from political showmanship to the development and welfare of its people. Accountability is critical to address the mismanagement that has allowed such tragedies to persist.
While the KP government mourns elsewhere, Kurram’s plight remains a stark reminder of the inequities that plague governance in the province. The path to stability lies not in selective responses but in addressing every tragedy with equal urgency and compassion.
Khalid Khan is a seasoned journalist, writer, and poet from Peshawar, Pakistan. Known for his sharp analysis and thought-provoking commentary, he has dedicated his career to human interest stories, political economy, and sustainable development.