In the rugged terrains of Pakistan’s Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, the Tirah Valley in Khyber tribal district is witnessing yet another wave of mass displacement. Fears of a limited military operation against the banned Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) have forced locals to abandon their homes once more. This exodus adds a grim chapter to the valley’s turbulent history, where ordinary residents bear the brunt of a bitter blame game between the federal government and the PTI-led provincial administration.
Over the past two decades, Pakistan has launched at least 12 major counter-terrorism operations in tribal areas and Malakand Division, each promising to eradicate the Taliban menace. Yet, violence has only grown more entrenched and ferocious. Residents of Tirah and surrounding regions continue to question when this vicious cycle will end.
The crisis has morphed into a political standoff. Federal and provincial authorities point fingers at each other, leaving locals with demolished homes, shattered livelihoods, and chaotic lives. Post-operation pledges of stability, reconstruction, and rehabilitation have repeatedly fallen by the wayside. Amid biting winter cold, people are compelled to trust vague assurances and vacate their dwellings.
Recent narratives in mainstream and social media have painted Pashtuns from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and former FATA in a negative, stereotypical light, fueling alienation and undermining the 2018 FATA merger goals. Critics argue the government uses media to deflect blame onto locals, propping up uninformed analysts to shape national discourse.
Non-political residents insist Tirah has been unfairly branded a hub for drug cultivation, smuggling, and terror financing, ignoring the area’s complexities. They see the current push as more about settling scores between federal and provincial powers than genuine counter-terrorism.
Questions swirl around a 24-member local jirga’s decision to evacuate by January 10, as post-merger authority rests solely with the provincial government. Khyber’s information advisor claimed elders were coerced into signing, a charge officials deny. As displacement deepens, the valley’s future hangs in precarious balance, with civilians caught in the crossfire of militancy and mismanagement.