AS the KP government and the centre squabble over who ordered the evacuation of civilians from Tirah in order to pave the way for a counterterrorism operation, local people are caught in no man’s land in the midst of a harsh winter.

Hundreds of locals have left their homes as the state prepares to go after a hornet’s nest of terrorists believed to be active in the area. But neither the KP administration nor the centre is ready to take ownership for the evacuation and displacement.

The federal information minister says neither the centre nor the military ordered the evacuation as the counterterrorism operation can be conducted without displacing the people from the area. The KP chief minister’s aide on information, however, claims that the province was not taken on board where the launch of the operation is concerned. In the midst of all this bickering, the evacuation process has been halted due to inclement weather, with more rain and snow expected in the days ahead.

Instead of trading blame, the KP government and the centre should be cooperating to address the people’s plight. Locals cannot be left to fend for themselves in such severe weather, especially when they have been uprooted from their native areas.

The state must ensure they have access to warm shelter, adequate food and water, health facilities, etc, until they are able to return home. Those familiar with local dynamics say that the PTI-led KP government had indeed been taken on board regarding the evacuation and operation.

However, due to the PTI founder’s opposition to a military operation, the provincial administration finds itself in a bind on how to sell the issue to the party’s cadres, and the general public. That state action is required in the area is evident. Sources say that militants belonging to IS-K, the Gul Bahadur group and Lashkar-i-Islam as well as Jamaatul Ahrar are all present in Tirah. These elements threaten all of Khyber district and Peshawar. Hence, an operation appears to be essential.

But the state’s action must be thorough, so that the terrorists are not able to re-establish themselves later. The tribal residents are justifiably exhausted in this endless cycle of violence and displacement. Therefore, the affected areas need to be permanently cleared of terrorists, while the local people must be cared for until their areas are declared safe.

Published in Dawn, January 27th, 2026