KHYBER: Amid fears of a military operation against terrorists after Eidul Azha, a jirga representing all major Tirah tribes on Saturday announced opposition to any forced displacement and the formation of armed tribal lashkar against outlawed groups in the valley.

Last Thursday, Tirah elders met Peshawar commissioner Riaz Mehsud, deputy commissioner of Khyber tribal district Rae Bilal Shahid and senior security officials at Khyber House and sought time to ponder over official plans about the start of two-phase military operation in Shalobar and Zakhakhel areas.

The commissioner had asked them to “temporarily” vacate their houses in areas where terrorist groups have established bases and intensified armed patrolling.

The jirga was held in Bagh-Maidan area to consider the decision of authorities about the launch of the military operation and displacement of local families.

Says won’t form lashkar against terrorists

Elders of almost all Tirah tribes and a large number of residents showed up there.

Saturday’s jirga unanimously declared that none of Tirah families was willing to vacate their houses as it was not a permanent or durable solution to the law and order issue in the valley.

It said that no tribe was ready to raise an armed lashkar nor would they fight against any outlawed terrorist outfit operating in the valley.

“This jirga is of the collective opinion that if displacement of our families is a lasting solution to the existing situation, we would have suggested it ourselves to authorities,” a declaration read.

It added that the government should take the jirga’s decisions seriously as the people of Tirah wanted peaceful resolution of all issues.

The jirga was convened at Bagh-Maidan Markaz a day after elders and other representatives of various tribes held separate meetings in their respective areas to evolve consensus over the authorities’ decision about temporary displacement ahead of a military operation.

The participants also cautioned against unilateral lashkar formation by any tribe and threatened to impose a huge fine on violators of the restriction.

People in Zakhakhel told Dawn that armed terrorists affiliated with Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan, Lashkar-i-Islam and Hafiz Gul Bahadur Group were openly patrolling their villages, restricting security forces to their bunkers atop hills.

They added that most terrorists were locals but Afghans, Orakzais and Waziristanis were also part of their groups and they could easily be recognised with their regional accent.

The residents said armed groups had warned them of targeting nearby security checkposts from their houses if they refused to pay them their share of “ushr” and “zakat.”

They said their refusal could result in the bombing and shelling or drone attacks of houses by security forces as terrorists carried out armed attacks on security posts from nearby houses, attracting the wrath of security forces.

The residents said terrorist groups who had penetrated into Tirah valley a year before had grown in strength and possessed modern weapons and even drones.

Meanwhile, sources in the valley claimed that at least four people, including a woman and her three children, were injured when a mortar shell fell on their house in Lala Cheena area of Shalobar on Saturday.

They said that one of the critically injured children was shifted to a Peshawar hospital, while the mother and two of her children were taken to a local medical centre for treatment.

Also in the day, another mortar shell partially damaged a mosque in Walikhel locality of Bar Qambarkhel. No damage to public life was reported.

Published in Dawn, June 1st, 2025