Police broker temporary ceasefire in Bajaur tribal dispute

BAJAUR: Police in Bajaur on Saturday arranged a temporary ceasefire between two tribes locked in a dispute over ownership of a mountain in the Banda area of Salarzai tehsil, according to an official statement.

The statement said District Police Officer Mohammad Khalid Khan intervened after tensions rose sharply and members of the rival tribes set up positions on the mountain, raising fears of an armed clash. It said the DPO ordered officials in the Utmankhel subdivision to move quickly to stop the situation from worsening.

A team from Salarzai police station, headed by DSP Jamal Shah, then went to the area and began talks with leaders of both tribes. According to the statement, the police team stepped in at a critical point, when the two sides were close to escalating the dispute. It added that members of both tribes were armed with automatic weapons and at first refused to accept a truce.

The statement said police warned both sides of strict legal action and informed tribal elders about the risks of armed hostilities, including possible loss of life and property. It added that action would be taken against anyone found taking the law into their own hands or disturbing public order.

After holding separate meetings with the elders, police persuaded both sides to halt hostilities and remove the positions they had established on the mountain, the statement said. It added that elders from the two tribes agreed to try to settle the dispute through dialogue and to adhere to the ceasefire arrangement.

The statement quoted DPO Khalid Khan as describing the development as an important success for both police and local residents. “The timely intervention by police helped avert a potentially destructive confrontation that could have resulted in loss of life and property. It also encouraged both sides to pursue a peaceful settlement of their dispute,” it read.

According to the statement, the police also made clear that no one would be allowed to take the law into their own hands and that disputes would be addressed through legal means and mutual negotiations.