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NO MILITARY OPERATION IN TIRAH, MIGRATION ROUTINE AND SEASONAL: MINISTERS Wednesday, 28 January, 2026 | 8 Sha’ban, 1447
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DEFENCE MINISTER KH ASIF DENIES ANY PLANNED MILITARY ACTION IN TIRAH, CITING CLIMATE, TOPOGRAPHY, AND CHANGING SNOWFALL PATTERNS AS REASONS FOR MIGRATION
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STRESSES SEASONAL MIGRATION OF AFRIDI AND AKAKHEL TRIBES PART OF DECADES-OLD PRACTICE
FEDERAL MINISTERS EMPHASIZE VOLUNTARY MOVEMENT, REJECT PTI ALLEGATIONS OF FORCED EVACUATION, SAYING KP APPROVED RS4B PACKAGE FOR RELOCATING RESIDENTS
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ISLAMABAD/PESHAWAR
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after federal and provincial authorities traded accusations over who had authorised the evacuation of hundreds of Tirah residents, who had reportedly vacated their homes ahead of a purported military action against terrorists. The displacement left many residents stranded in cold weather, with inadequate arrangements exacerbating the situation. HISTORICAL CONTEXT AND GOVERNMENT STANCE: Khawaja Asif explained that Tirah has been home
KP CM AFRIDI ACCUSES CENTRE OF PUSHING REGION TOWARD INSTABILITY, DISPLACEMENT
HIGHLIGHTS IBOS, RATHER THAN LARGESCALE MILITARY CAMPAIGNS, PREFERRED METHOD TO COUNTER MILITANCY IN VALLEY DUE TO REDUCED COLLATERAL DAMAGE
Staff RepoRt
EFENCE Minister Khawaja Asif and Information Minister Atta Tarar on Tuesday categorically denied any ongoing or planned military operation in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s Tirah Valley, asserting that the migration of residents from the area was a long-standing, routine practice driven by climate and topography. Speaking at a press conference in Islamabad, flanked by Special Assistant to the Prime Minister for Information and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Affairs Ikhtiar Wali Khan, the ministers stressed that the movement of Tirah residents was neither unusual nor an indication of a military action against militants. “It has even been mentioned in a gazette from the British era, and this transition takes place every year. This is nothing unusual, but the PTI government has tried to make it appear unusual,” Khawaja Asif said, holding up a notification issued by the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government. The press conference came two days
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to approximately 400-500 members of the banned Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) along with their families. “They are around 400-500 in number,” he said. He emphasised that the provincial government had approved a Rs4 billion package to assist the migrating population, and that the federal armed forces were not involved in the relocation. “This is an arrangement between the jirga and the provincial government, and as a result of that, this notification was issued,” the defence minister added.
Asif clarified that the funds, released via the KP Relief, Rehabilitation and Resettlement Department, were intended for relief-related arrangements for those temporarily relocating from areas such as Bagh in Tirah. He stressed that neither the armed forces nor the federal government had issued any order for the “depopulation” of Tirah. The defence minister highlighted that intelligence-based operations (IBOs), rather than large-scale military campaigns, had long been the preferred method to counter militancy in the valley due to reduced collateral damage. “This is why this practice has been ongoing there for many years, and that is why there is no question of any operation in Tirah,” Asif said.
ROUTINE MIGRATION AND ADMINISTRATIVE GAPS: Asif described migration in the valley as a regular and historically entrenched practice. He also criticised the KP government’s performance, noting the lack of hospitals, schools, and police stations in the region.
Sattar demands resignation of Bilalwal’s three ‘naïve friends’ over Gul Plaza tragedy KARACHI
Staff RepoRt
Amid an ongoing war of words between the ruling coalition partners — the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) and the Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan (MQM-P) — MQM-P leader Farooq Sattar on Tuesday urged PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari to demand the resignations of Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah, Karachi Mayor Murtaza Wahab, and Senior Information Minister Sharjeel Inam Memon, calling for Karachi to be handed over to the control of the Centre. The verbal clash between the two parties has intensified following the tragic Gul Plaza fire in Karachi. Addressing a press conference in Karachi, Sattar described the three PPP leaders as “three naive friends” of Bilawal Bhutto, asserting that they had added an enormous “burden” to the PPP’s “ship that could sink it.”
“Reduce this burden,” he urged, insisting that Bilawal seek the resignation of all three. “What if another disaster strikes? They are dragging you into a swamp. The people of Karachi, and Sindh’s cities, demand that all three resign,” he said. Sattar emphasised that MQM-P was not directly demanding the resignations but was calling on Bilawal to make the decision after consulting with PPP patriarch President Asif Ali Zardari. He acknowledged that the PPP still had capable individuals who believed in dialogue and engagement, in line with the ideology of former leaders Zulfikar Ali Bhutto and Benazir Bhutto. However, Sattar lamented that despite repeated attempts over the past oneand-a-half years, he had failed to secure a meeting with Bilawal. “I gave him a chit in every NA session, and he is still not willing to meet us,” he said, adding that this would be his “last” attempt. The MQM-P leader also refrained from dis-
cussing the formation of the Sindh government at length, alleging rigging in the mayoral elections won by Murtaza Wahab in June 2023.
MQM-P REITERATES DEMAND FOR JUDICIAL COMMISSION: During the press conference, Sattar reit-
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erated MQM-P’s demand for a judicial commission to investigate the Gul Plaza blaze. “I am asking Bilawal BhuttoZardari sahib to form a judicial commission on the incident … and ignore his ignorant friends,” he said.
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PM reaffirms commitment to strengthen longstanding Pakistan–Myanmar relations ISLAMABAD
Staff RepoRt
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Tuesday reaffirmed Pakistan’s commitment to further strengthening its longstanding relations with Myanmar, stressing the need to broaden cooperation across trade and economic engagement, education, culture, capacity-building and people-to-people exchanges. The prime minister made these remarks during a meeting with Myanmar’s Minister of Foreign Affairs Than Swe, who is on a four-day official visit to Islamabad, according to a statement issued by the Prime Minister’s Office. “Welcoming the visiting dignitary and reaffirming Pakistan’s commitment to further strengthening its longstanding relations with Myanmar, the prime minister underscored the importance of expanding cooperation in trade and economic engagement, education, culture, capacity-building, and people-topeople exchanges,” the statement said. PM Shehbaz also appreciated Myanmar’s cooperation in combating human trafficking and acknowledged its support for Pakistan’s engagement with the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean). Meanwhile, Foreign Minister Than Swe thanked the prime minister for the warm welcome extended to him and his delegation. “He conveyed the greetings and good wishes from Myanmar’s leadership and expressed Myanmar’s desire to expand its ties with Pakistan in areas of mutual interest,” the statement added. The Burmese foreign minister also expressed gratitude for Pakistan’s support following an earthquake that struck Myanmar and neighbouring Thailand last March. Earlier, on Monday, Pakistan and Myanmar agreed to renew and strengthen bilateral relations through expanded trade, enhanced people-to-people contacts and increased academic exchanges, signalling a diplomatic reset after years of limited engagement. The understanding emerged during delegation-level talks between Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Mohammad Ishaq Dar and Than Swe, followed by a joint press conference in Islamabad. Terming the discussions “productive and comprehensive”, Dar underscored the need for sustained, structured and result-oriented initiatives, particularly in the area of capacity-building. He said the Myanmar foreign minister’s visit reflected the importance both sides attached to revitalising ties and emphasised resolving all contentious issues through dialogue and diplomacy. Relations between Pakistan and Myanmar have witnessed a period of relative silence in recent years, largely due to the Rohingya crisis. Pakistan has consistently condemned Myanmar’s treatment of the Rohingya Muslim minority at international forums, including the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation and the United Nations, while also extending humanitarian assistance and hosting refugees. Despite these strains, recent engagements point to a pragmatic shift in bilateral ties. On Monday, Dar also highlighted the importance of deepening academic linkages and youth engagement, reiterating that Pakistan valued its “cordial and friendly” relations with Myanmar and remained keen to expand cooperation across mutually beneficial fields.