No Military Operation Planned in Tirah Valley: Defence Minister

ISLAMABAD: (Web Desk) – Defence Minister Khawaja Asif on Tuesday categorically ruled out any military operation in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s Tirah Valley, terming reports about forced evacuation or an impending operation as baseless disinformation. He said seasonal migration from areas near the Afghan border is a long-standing winter practice and not a new development.

Addressing a press conference in Islamabad alongside Information Minister Attaullah Tarar and Special Assistant to the Prime Minister for Information and KP Affairs Ikhtiar Wali Khan, Khawaja Asif said that residents were not vacating their homes due to any military action. He clarified that members of the banned Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan, numbering around 400 to 500 along with their families, have been residing in the area.

The defence minister stated that the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government has approved a Rs4 billion relief package for the people of Tirah Valley who migrate during winter. He stressed that the armed forces have no role in this arrangement, describing it as a decision mutually agreed upon between the local jirga and the provincial government, supported by an official notification.

Centre, KP trade blame as Tirah evacuees claim force

Khawaja Asif recalled that a military operation had been conducted in the area years ago, after which it was strategically decided to rely on intelligence-based operations due to their effectiveness and reduced collateral damage. He said such operations have been ongoing for years, leaving no justification for a large-scale military action.

Criticising the KP government, the defence minister pointed out the lack of basic infrastructure in Tirah Valley, including hospitals, police stations, and schools, particularly for girls. He said it was agreed with the jirga that hospitals, police stations, and girls’ schools would be established, adding that civilian law enforcement presence in the area was virtually nonexistent.