KHYBER: The deadlock on Thursday persisted between tribal elders of Tirah and government officials over the launch of a military operation in Tirah valley as well as the relocation of families to prevent collateral damage.

A jirga was held at the commissioner’s office that was attended by commissioner of Peshawar Riaz Mehsud, deputy commissioner of Khyber Rae Bilah Shahid, security officials and a select group of Tirah and Bara elders.

Local MNA Iqbal Afridi and MPA Abdul Ghani Afridi and representatives of political parties and local government were not invited to the jirga.

Sources told Dawn that the daylong jirga proceedings ended in a deadlock over the proposals put forward by the representatives of Tirah and Bara tribes, who declared that they wouldn’t agree to any forced displacement of families.

Tribal elders reiterate opposition to forced displacement of families

The tribal elders demanded payment of Rs5 million for destroyed houses each and Rs3 million for damaged ones each in case of a military operation in Zakhakhel and Shalobar areas of Tirah valley.

The jirga “reluctantly agreed to internal temporary” displacement on the condition that every family would be paid Rs500,000 in advance for vacating the house ahead of the military operation.

Elders from Tirah and Bara called for a one-time military operation and said once an area was declared “cleared from terrorists,” no such action should be conducted in that area in the future nor should the residents be asked to vacate their houses.

The commissioner and DC reportedly sought time for discussing the suggestions with senior government and security officials, with a meeting likely to take place today (Friday).

They said that while the government officials insisted on initiating a military operation in areas of Tirah valley where banned terrorist groups had intensified their activities, they could not convince jirga members over the thorny issue of displacement of thousands of families prior to the second phase of the military operation.

The message about a military operation and eviction of families in Zakhakhel and Shalobar areas of Tirah was conveyed to the representatives of the region by Peshawar commissioner Riaz Mehsud during a meeting held at Khyber House on May27.

In response, a jirga of Tirah elders, held on May31 in Bagh-Maidan, unanimously rejected their forced displacement and instead insisted on internal temporary displacement during a short term military operation while also refusing to raise any tribal lashkar to fight terrorists.

A June6 jirga, again held at the Khyber House, also failed to convince Tirah elders to agree to vacate houses to prevent any collateral damage during the military operation. The Provincial Disaster Management Authority was tasked with establishing a temporary camp for newly-displaced families at a suitable area either in Bara or Upper Bara, official sources told Dawn.

They said that the PDMA’s relevant staff members had surveyed a location in Mastak where they were asked to pitch at least5,000 tents for the displaced families.

Dawn has also learnt that Tirah residents were also given a choice to relocate to a camp in the Dwa Thoey area near Bagh-Maidan and Rajgal regions.

Officials said the security establishment was determined to conduct a “decisive” military operation in different phases to purge the valley of all “undesirable elements.”

Meanwhile, MNA Iqbal Afridi told Dawn that any decision about a military operation and forced displacement of Tirah residents would be opposed at all forums as Thursday’s jirga was not attended by the “actual” representatives of the region.

He said that those who were invited to the Khyber House jirga on Thursday were neither independent intaking any decision regarding military operation and forced displacement nor had they enjoyed any support from the people of Tirah.

Published in Dawn, June 13th, 2025