Pakistan denies army ordered Tirah Valley depopulation claims

Tirah Valley – (Special Correspondent / Web Desk) – Pakistan’s Information Ministry has denied claims that the military ordered residents of Tirah Valley in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) to leave their homes ahead of an anti-militant operation. The government emphasized that any movement of people from the region is entirely voluntary, responding to concerns about rising militant activity, particularly from the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP). Despite previous military campaigns, Tirah Valley has remained a stronghold for insurgents, prompting authorities to plan targeted operations to restore stability.

The ministry clarified that law enforcement actions are intelligence-based and focused on militants, with efforts made to avoid disrupting civilian life. Local residents, worried about the presence of insurgents, have expressed a desire for peace, and any voluntary relocation reflects their decisions, formalized through local jirgas. A government notification issued in December released funds to support the temporary movement of people, further underscoring that these actions are civilian-driven rather than military-mandated.

The situation has highlighted tensions between Pakistan’s federal and provincial governments. KP’s provincial authorities, led by the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party, have criticized the federal government for not consulting local stakeholders, leaving affected residents without adequate support.

Pakistani Citizen Returns Home After Spending 25 Years in Indian Jail

Meanwhile, the military defends its operations, citing a nationwide increase in militant attacks, particularly in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, as a justification for ongoing intelligence-based security measures.