• One soldier martyred during exchange of fire
• Elders oppose Tirah evacuation
• Panic grips Zakhakhel as families flee amid military build-up

KHYBER: Security forces killed four terrorists while foiling an infiltration attempt by a group of terrorists trying to cross the Pak-Afghan border into Khyber district, the military said on Saturday.

In a statement, the ISPR said that on the night between Dec 19 and 20, movement of a group of terrorists, trying to infiltrate through Pakistan-Afghanistan border, was picked up by security forces in the Rajgal area of Khyber. It said troops effectively engaged and thwarted their attempt to infiltrate. Resultantly, four militants were killed.

“During the intense fire exchange, one brave son of soil, Sepoy Amir Sohail Afridi, 22, resident of Khyber, having fought gallantly, embraced Shahadat,” the statement added.

The ISPR said Pakistan had consistently been asking the interim Afghan government to ensure effective border management on their side of the border. It said the interim Afghan government is expec­ted to fulfil its obligations and deny the use of Afghan soil by khawarij for perpetuating acts of terrorism against Pakistan.

Tirah evacuation opposed

Meanwhile, local tribal elders expressed strong opposition to the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Apex Committee’s decision regarding the evacuation of Tirah Valley for action against ‘miscreants’, saying they would not submit to such a decision under any circumstances.

They told Dawn that it had taken them seven-eight years of hard work since 2016 to rebuild their homes, which had been damaged during previous military operations. Now, they felt they were being pushed into another evacuation, a measure they found unacceptable.

A group of Tirah elders and traders also conveyed these concerns to Peshawar corps commander during a recent meeting on Tirah situation.

Some participants of the meeting requesting anonymity told Dawn that instead of taking action based on the information they had shared or addressing the presence of these undesirable elements, the elders were instructed to leave their homes, rather than having their safety ensured.

Panic-stricken families

Meanwhile, some panic-stricken families fled their homes in the Zakhakhel area of Tirah as security forces increased their presence in parts of the valley, positioning tanks and artillery in preparation for a potential military operation against militant hideouts in the area.

Footage showing families leaving the Zakhakhel area circulated on social media, further exacerbating the situation. Some local residents called on both incumbent and former parliamentarians to inte­r­vene and help prevent the commencement of a large-scale military operation.

Residents in the Zakhakhel area confirmed to Dawn that several families — whose exact number could not be immediately determined — left their homes after Friday prayers. Many others were searching for vehicles in Bagh and Dunga localities to move to safer areas as mortar shells continued to be fired indiscriminately at regular intervals in Zakhakhel, Shalobar and Malakdinkhel.

They said the sudden increase in security forces, their intensified patrols in areas where terrorists had previously fortified positions, and the establishment of security posts in private houses, created fear among local residents of a possible large-scale military operation and a confrontation with the outlawed TTP-affiliated terrorists.

Haji Sher Muhammad, president of the Tirah Traders’ Union, however, told Dawn there had been no mass evacuation from the valley, rather families were asked to temporarily vacate homes for safety during search operations in certain areas.

Dawn has learned from locals that security forces set fire to one house each in Dunga and Tangi areas, suspecting that one resident of each house had links to terrorist group.

Published in Dawn, December 22nd, 2024