Jirga’s Hectic Mediation Efforts Fall Short of Major Breakthrough in Shakai Land Dispute, Announces Two-Day Ceasefire for Fresh Talks

Both Sparki-Khujal Khel tribes urged to maintain peace until Sept 23, with fresh jirga expected to resume dialogue and hopes for a peaceful and mutually acceptable settlement

Staff Report

SHAKAI: In an unfortunate development, respected tribal elders from the Mehsud and Wazir tribes came together to form a jirga to resolve a decades-old land dispute between the Sperkai and Khujal Khel tribes in Shakai Tehsil of Lower South Waziristan, but they concluded their efforts without reaching a final settlement despite extensive and sincere efforts.

The jirga, headed by Malik Saeed Anwar Mehsud and comprising elders from the Mehsud tribe, Wana and the Malikshai tribe, held detailed discussions with both sides in an effort to find a peaceful and mutually acceptable solution to the longstanding dispute.

However, despite hectic consultations and repeated attempts over the past five days to bridge differences between the two parties, the jirga could not achieve a breakthrough. It ultimately announced a two-day ceasefire to prevent further escalation and create space for continued dialogue.The jirga has given both sides until 10am on Wednesday, September 23, to maintain peace and refrain from any action that could further aggravate tensions in the area.

The jirga subsequently left Shakai, acknowledging that its efforts had not succeeded at this stage. It expressed hope that the additional time and intervention of another jirga could help pave the way for a peaceful settlement.

On the occasion, Saeed Anwar Mehsud appealed to both sides to respect the ceasefire and settle the dispute amicably. He also urged the local administration to intervene promptly to prevent bloodshed, noting that both sides had occupied trenches and were equipped with heavy weapons, and that any outbreak of conflict could cause widespread devastation.

He lamented that despite sincere and extensive efforts to find a mutually acceptable solution, the jirga had been unable to resolve the dispute and therefore had to leave the area. He expressed hope that the local administration would take immediate steps to address the issue.

As part of the peace initiative, another jirga is expected to reach the area to continue negotiations and explore avenues for resolving the dispute through dialogue and traditional tribal mechanisms.

The jirga also called upon the police, Frontier Corps and other law-enforcement agencies to take immediate steps to have the positions and bunkers vacated in order to prevent further escalation and protect the peace and security of the area.

The locals urged both the parties to honour their commitments and exercise maximum restraint. In this regard, they stated that contacts have also been established with MPA Ajab Gul and MNA Zubair, while the Deputy Commissioner and District Police Officer have assured the jirga of their full cooperation and support in efforts to peacefully resolve the dispute.

The jirga made an emphatic appeal to both parties to respect the announced ceasefire, refrain from confrontation and give dialogue a genuine opportunity.

With tensions remaining high, tribal elders stressed that peace must be given a chance and that the longstanding dispute should not be allowed to further endanger lives, property and the wider security of the area.

The Deputy Commissioner has already imposed Section 144 in the area as a precautionary measure.

The elders appealed to all concerned to demonstrate patience and restraint during the two-day ceasefire and cooperate with the jirga and administration in preventing any further deterioration of the situation.

They expressed hope that the additional jirga and continued negotiations would succeed where the latest round of efforts could not, ultimately leading to a durable and mutually acceptable settlement of the decades-old dispute.