KHYBER: Peshawar Corps Commander Lt Gen Umar Ahmad Bukhari has said that army will go out against terrorists till they are completely crushed and wiped out from Tirah valley of Khyber tribal district.

Addressing a selected gathering of tribal elders and representatives of political parties and civil society organisations in Bara the other day, he said that restoration of lasting peace in the entire Khyber was the ultimate goal and top priority of security forces.

He, however, reminded the participants of the jirga that use of locals, especially children, as human shield by militants was seriously affecting the efficacy of ongoing intelligence-based operations (IBOs) in Tirah and other adjoining localities.

Lt Gen Umar lauded the role of people of Khyber in general and tribal elders in particular in assisting security forces in their efforts to take on the monster of militancy.

Lt Gen Umar lauds tribal elders for assisting security forces

Though there was no official word about the details of the jirga, participants of the gathering told Dawn on Wednesday that it was held in a very cordial atmosphere and the Peshawar corps commander provided every opportunity to some tribal elders and local political figures to share their thoughts and apprehensions about the current security situation in Tirah valley.

They said that tribal elders suggested to him to form a fully authorised jirga comprising seasoned and experienced tribal elders to hold meaningful dialogue with Afghan Taliban leadership in Kabul and later open a dialogue channel with Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) after finding a clue to any success in their contacts with Taliban leadership in Kabul.

They said that the Peshawar corps commander also appreciated the role of tribal elders in peacefully negotiating reopening of Torkham when border security forces traded fire over construction of a controversial checkpost on the Afghan side of the border in late February.

“We reminded the corps commander that peaceful reopening of Torkham border by tribal jirga was a manifestation of local elders command over resolution of such thorny issues in accordance with time-tested tribal customs and traditions,” said one of the tribal elders, who attended the Tuesday’s jirga.

There was also some criticism of the erstwhile Fata merger with Khyber Pakhtunkhwa by some elders during the jirga. They blamed the passage of 25th Amendment for the existing law and order situation in some tribal districts, sources told Dawn.

They said that the criticism of merger and subsequent deterioration of law and order in tribal districts was neutralised by some activists of political parties present in the jirga who rebutted with the counter argument that militancy and extremism had raised its ugly heads years before the region was merged with Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

They said that some participants suggested to the corps commander to give a timeframe about the ongoing military operations and restoration of peace in Tirah to win the fading confidence of people.

Published in Dawn, April 24th, 2025