Defence Minister Khawaja Asif has dismissed claims of a new military operation in Tirah Valley, saying recent population movement is a routine, weather-driven migration that is being wrongly portrayed as a crisis.
Addressing a joint press conference in Islamabad, Asif was joined by Federal Information Minister Atta Tarar and Coordinator Ikhtiar Wali. The ministers responded to reports about displacement in Tirah Valley and criticism of the federal government’s role.
Seasonal migration due to snowfall
Khawaja Asif said people living along the Pak-Afghan border, particularly in Tirah Valley, migrate every year once snowfall begins.
“There are six to seven villages along the border. As soon as snowfall starts, migration begins. This is historical and not a new crisis,” he said. He added that the scale of displacement depends on snowfall intensity and should not be exaggerated.
KP govt criticised
The minister said the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government has failed to meet public expectations. He alleged that the KP government had allocated Rs4 billion for displaced persons but questioned where and how the funds were being invested.
“This is the failure of the provincial government that these people have not even been properly registered,” he said, adding that displaced families are entitled to relief compensation.
No military operation
Asif categorically stated that no operation is being carried out in Tirah Valley. “We have not issued any notification, and there is no proposal to conduct an operation or to change the status of the merged districts again,” he said.
He explained that large-scale military operations in the area ended many years ago and only intelligence-based operations (IBOs) are conducted to avoid civilian harm.
The minister said issues related to Tirah Valley were addressed through a jirga involving around 26 tribal elders, with meetings held on December 11, 24, and 31.
According to him, the jirga met representatives of the banned Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan and later briefed the provincial government. Arrangements were made jointly with the jirga and KP authorities, and local concerns were communicated through this process.
Politicisation and blame game
Khawaja Asif accused certain political elements of trying to give the displacement a political colour. He said attempts were being made to shift blame onto state institutions to hide provincial governance failures.
“The provincial government wants to throw the debris of its own failure on institutions,” he remarked.
The minister acknowledged that residents of Tirah Valley have legitimate demands, including schools, hospitals, police stations, peace, and law and order. He said the Pakistan Army is working to restore peace in the area.
He also mentioned concerns since the Taliban takeover in Afghanistan, noting internal divisions within the Taliban and their impact on border regions.
Govt ready to cooperate
Khawaja Asif stressed that the federal government has no direct role in the matter but is fully prepared to cooperate if the KP government acts in the public interest.
“If the provincial government takes steps for the welfare of the people, the federation will fully cooperate,” he assured.
Information Minister Atta Tarar said changing climate patterns are also affecting snowfall timing. “Earlier, snowfall used to begin in November. Now it is the end of January,” he said, linking delayed snowfall to climate change.
The federal ministers reiterated that Tirah Valley’s situation should be viewed in its historical and climatic context. They called for coordination instead of confrontation to ensure relief, development, and stability for border communities.
