Centre, KP trade blame as Tirah evacuees claim force

Khyber Pakhtunkhwa – (Web DEsk) – After hundreds of residents from Tirah left their homes due to heavy snowfall and an anticipated anti-terror operation, tensions rose between the federal and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa governments. Chief Minister Sohail Afridi stated that people were “forced” to evacuate, triggering a sharp exchange of statements between the two sides.

During an appearance programme Naya Pakistan, Federal Planning Minister Ahsan Iqbal questioned the reasons behind the displacement, saying the provincial government needed to clarify why residents were leaving Tirah. He firmly denied any federal directive or appeal calling for an evacuation.

Iqbal referred to an official statement issued late Saturday night, noting that the Ministry of Information had already rejected claims of a large-scale military operation in the area. He warned that linking the displacement to the armed forces was misleading and risked spreading false information.

Emphasising that law and order is a provincial responsibility, Iqbal criticised the KP government for what he described as a failure to manage the situation. He added that the PTI-led administration had repeatedly targeted state institutions and questioned whether it truly stood with the people or with extremist elements.

Echoing these remarks, Information Minister Attaullah Tarar said the federal government had taken serious notice of what he described as false propaganda surrounding Tirah. He reiterated that associating the evacuation with the military was misleading and factually incorrect.

The response comes amid worsening humanitarian conditions in Tirah, where families fleeing the Maidan area have been stranded on snow-covered roads due to heavy snowfall and freezing temperatures.

The evacuation from the area began on January 9 ahead of a planned operation expected to conclude within two months, with rehabilitation and return scheduled to start from April 5.

According to the Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA), heavy snowfall blocked the Miraban–Tirah Valley Road, while several major routes across Khyber Pakhtunkhwa — including Kaghan–Naran, Battal and the Lowari Tunnel — were also shut, stranding residents and tourists. Snow buildup further disrupted traffic in Buner, Swat, Chitral, Lower Dir and Kolai-Palas, where road-clearing operations are underway with heavy machinery.

Rescue 1122 officials said emergency efforts are continuing in Tirah, with 103 personnel deployed from Peshawar, Mardan, Swabi, Nowshera and Khyber. So far, more than 25 vehicles carrying 65 stranded people have been safely rescued, and operations are being expanded as conditions evolve.

Meanwhile, KP Chief Minister Afridi said the people of Tirah Valley were “forced to leave” due to the situation, adding that the provincial government did not carry out any formal evacuation.

Addressing party workers in Chakdara, Afridi said the people of Tirah were facing severe hardship and warned that if the ongoing operation was not halted within the next two to three days, the provincial government would formulate its own strategy.

Strong Western System Brings Cold Wave, Rain

The chief minister clarified that his party was neither hostile to the armed forces nor to state institutions, but opposed those who, he said, interfere in politics.

Separately, KP government spokesperson Shafi Jan dismissed the federal government’s claim regarding the release of Rs4 billion for families displaced from Tirah as “highly ridiculous”.

He said the provincial government had released funds in a timely manner to provide relief to the displaced families, adding that residents of Tirah were being compelled to leave their homes due to an operation.

Jan further accused the federal government of making a failed attempt to shift responsibility for the operation onto the KP government.