KHYBER: Return of displaced Sipah families was suspended to at least two localities of Tirah valley after reports about presence of militants there, according to sources.

Sources told Dawn that Sipah elders in Sandapal and Dray Nagharee localities of Tirah were told by the local authorities to temporarily suspend return of the remaining families after locals reported presence of some suspicious armed men, supposedly affiliated with the outlawed Lashkar-i-Islam (LI) organisation.

However, no official statement about the abrupt suspension of repatriation of Sipah families was issued by the relevant authorities while local officials were reluctant to share any details about the new development.

Sources said that some activists of LI, mostly belonging to Sipah tribe, had earlier approached local security officials for their ‘safe’ return to the areas. The displaced families had started returning to these areas since June 13.

Locals show concern over return of Lashkar-i-Islam members to the area

Sources said that the plan to ‘accommodate’ LI members in their respective areas was duly conveyed to Sipah elders during a jirga prior to the announcement of the return of more than 5,000 displaced families after over a decade of their displacement.

LI chief Mangal Bagh and a majority of his associates fled to Afghanistan in 2012 and took refuge in the bordering province of Nangarhar after a large-scale military operation was launched against them.

Mangal Bagh was killed by some unidentified gunmen near his house in Naziyan district of Nangarhar province of Afghanistan about a year ago while most of his associates started deserting his banned organisation much before his murder. A considerable number of them surrendered to security force and a handful of them remained affiliated with him till his death.

Mangal Bagh had earlier survived at least one drone strike and several other attempts on his life. He belonged to Sipah tribe.

The residents of Bara, particularly Sipah tribesmen, have expressed concern over the return of armed LI activists to Sandapal and Dray Nagharee localities. They have demanded of the local administration and security officials to take effective measures about the re-emergence of militants in any part of Tirah and Bara.

Meanwhile, security officials handed over at least 40 newly-constructed shops to recently returned Kukikhel traders in Rajgal area of Tirah.

The shops to the residents of Mehraban Kallay, Thor Darra and Surkas were allotted after conducting a draw during a ceremony, which was attended by security officials and Kukikhel elders.

The Kukikhel elders later during a jirga with officials of the district administration and security forces in Dwa Thoey demanded resumption of the suspended survey of their damaged houses and other infrastructure.

They said that majority of the returned families could not rebuild their damaged houses due to the abrupt suspension of the survey. They also demanded start of second phase of repatriation of Kukikhels to Bagh, Pakdarra, Thor Sapar and Kherwalay Kandaw in Sapurri area of Rajgal.

The jirga expressed satisfaction over the restoration of peace in the region but accused the provincial government of denying the returning families of a comprehensive package for their rehabilitation.

Published in Dawn, August 22nd, 2022