Defence Minister Clears Army, Blames KP Government for Tirah Valley Displacement Crisis

Federal Defence Minister Khawaja Asif addressed a press conference in Islamabad, alongside Federal Minister Atta Tarar and Ikhtiar Wali Khan. In his statement, he dismissed claims of an ongoing Army operation in the Tirah Valley and accused the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) government of shifting blame onto military authorities.

Asif emphasized that displacement in the Tirah Valley is a common occurrence and not the result of any planned operations by the Armed Forces. He stated, “The notification was issued after consultations between the provincial government and a jirga, allocating Rs4 billion for those affected.”

While acknowledging the efforts to provide assistance, Asif criticized the KP government’s handling of governance issues in the region. He pointed out that there are no schools or police stations available in the area, which he claimed is an indication of the KP administration’s incompetence. “The provincial government has failed to meet public expectations,” he said.

Asif further alleged that the interests of the KP government were intertwined with those of a terrorist organization, thus placing all blame on military operations when governance failures are more pertinent. He explained, “No large-scale military operation has been conducted in the Tirah Valley for many years; intelligence-based operations continue.”

To counter these accusations, Asif highlighted that people frequently migrate from the region to other areas every year and dismissed such migration as a normal phenomenon. The Defence Minister stressed that no significant military intervention had taken place within the Tirah Valley over recent years.

Asif also underscored that the jirga involved in this matter was separate from any involvement with the Army. He concluded by asserting, “The notification was issued following mutual consultations between the provincial government and the jirga, ensuring transparency in addressing the displacement crisis.”