ISLAMABAD – The shadow of violence and distrust looms large over Tirah Valley in Pakistan’s Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, triggering fresh displacement amid talks of anti-TTP military action. Locals in this volatile tribal pocket are fleeing en masse, victims of a protracted conflict that pits security operations against civilian lives.
Journalist and analyst Ehsanulllah Tipu Mehsud highlights in The Express Tribune how 12 major operations over 20 years failed to quell militancy, instead amplifying its ferocity across tribal belts. ‘When will this violence end?’ remains the haunting refrain from Tirah’s beleaguered populace.
Political discord exacerbates the tragedy. Islamabad and Peshawar trade accusations, while families endure ruined homes and lost incomes in freezing conditions. Grand promises of post-op revival evaporate, leaving behind skepticism and suffering.
Media campaigns stereotyping Pashtun communities are widening rifts, sabotaging FATA integration efforts. The government stands accused of scapegoating locals via biased reporting and armchair experts.
Ground voices decry Tirah’s vilification as a narco-terror nexus, overlooking socio-economic roots. The jirga’s evacuation order raises legal eyebrows post-merger, with claims of elder coercion adding fuel to the fire.
This latest upheaval underscores Pakistan’s struggle with militancy: operations displace thousands, but without sustained rehabilitation, resentment festers, breeding tomorrow’s threats. Tirah’s plight demands not just boots on the ground, but holistic solutions bridging security and development.