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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.
PM reaffirms commitment to strengthen longstanding Pakistan–Myanmar relations ISLAMABAD
Staff RepoRt
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.
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.
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