ISLAMABAD: Defence Minister Khawaja Asif on Tuesday rejected reports of a military operation in Tirah Valley, stating that no such operation has taken place in the region for several years and that the recent movement of residents is part of a routine seasonal migration during winter.
Addressing a press conference in Islamabad alongside Information Minister Attaullah Tarar and Special Assistant to the Prime Minister for Information and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Affairs Ikhtiar Wali Khan, Asif said the situation was being misrepresented as a crisis.
“There has been no operation in Tirah Valley for many years. These are all assumptions,” the defence minister said.
Seasonal Migration, Not Displacement
Asif explained that migration from Tirah Valley and other high-altitude areas along the Pakistan-Afghanistan border occurs annually due to harsh winter conditions.
“During snowfall, people migrate from valleys located along the Pak-Afghan border. Migration from the Tirah Valley also takes place every year,” he said, adding that the movement was being wrongly portrayed as forced displacement.
Local sources echoed this view, saying winter migration from Tirah is a long-standing tradition documented in historical records and remembered through generations. Situated at an altitude of around 7,500 feet, Tirah Valley becomes heavily snowbound in winter, making it difficult for families to survive in peak cold conditions.
KP Government Support Announced
The defence minister said the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) government had allocated Rs4 billion to support families temporarily relocating from the valley.
He added that a formal notification regarding the relocation was issued after consultations between the provincial government and a local jirga. According to Asif, it was agreed during these consultations to establish schools and police stations in the area.
However, local accounts suggest that administrative shortcomings created difficulties for residents. Limited registration points and insufficient staff reportedly led to long queues and traffic congestion, adding to public hardship.
Jirga Contacts and TTP Presence
Asif also revealed that members of a local jirga had met representatives of the banned Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) on December 11, followed by a meeting with the KP chief minister.
He claimed that around 400 to 500 TTP members, along with their families, are currently present in Tirah Valley, but clarified that intelligence-based operations against militants continue as per routine.
“The area is not being evacuated for any operation. The armed forces deployed in that area have nothing to do with it,” he stressed.
Winter Conditions Limit Militancy
Local observers argue that winter is not a typical season for military operations in high-altitude regions. With civilians moving to lower areas due to snowfall, militant presence also decreases as harsh weather makes sustained activity in remote mountainous terrain difficult.
They further noted that no temporary camps were established for migrants because many Tirah residents traditionally stay with relatives or in their own homes in Bara and surrounding areas during winter months.
Economic Factors Behind Tensions
Highlighting another dimension of the situation, Asif claimed illegal economic activities were contributing to tensions in the region.
“Cannabis is cultivated on around 12,000 acres in the Tirah Valley. The income is about Rs3.5 million per acre, and this is the real dispute,” he said.
Government Offers Media Visit
The defence minister said the government was ready to facilitate journalists’ visits to Tirah Valley to independently assess the ground realities.
“We can take journalists to Tirah to show them the real situation,” he said.
