Says forced displacement and ‘closed-door decisions’ are fuelling unrest, not defeating terrorism
Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Sohail Afridi. SCREENGRAB
PESHAWAR:
Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Sohail Khan Afridi has strongly criticised the ongoing operation in Tirah, alleging that the military action and forced displacement of residents stem from “closed-door decisions” aimed at serving political interests rather than eliminating terrorism.
In a detailed message shared on social media platform X, the chief minister said he had repeatedly stated that the Tirah operation and the compulsory evacuation of people were not intended to restore peace. “Tirah is my home. Its people are my own,” he said, adding that the current actions were a failed attempt to distance the local population from him because of his firm stance on the issue.
Afridi assured that his government would make every possible effort to resolve the problems faced by the people of Tirah, saying he had made a promise to the nation and would fulfill it. He alleged that terrorism had been forcibly imposed on the region and that, under the ongoing military operation, residents were being compelled to leave their homes, causing immense hardship.
The chief minister further claimed that security forces were interfering in administrative matters, deliberately slowing down official processes. He said registration of displaced persons was being carried out by NADRA, a federal institution, where people were allegedly being intentionally harassed.
According to Afridi, lengthy verification procedures, including repeated checks and biometric eye scans, were turning hours-long tasks into processes stretching over several days, causing frustration among affected families.
He also alleged that attempts were being made to provoke public anger against elected representatives. Afridi claimed that “planted elements” were inciting displaced people and that local MPA Abdul Ghani Afridi faced harassment and security risks during a visit to the area, including alleged road blockades that endangered his life.
Emphasising that terrorism cannot be defeated through secretive, unilateral decisions, the chief minister said trust-building was essential for restoring peace. He stressed that sustainable and lasting peace was impossible without taking all stakeholders on board. Afridi called for the implementation of recommendations put forward by political and religious parties and other stakeholders during the K-P Assembly’s grand jirga, terming inclusive dialogue the only viable path to resolving the crisis in Tirah.
Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Afridi visited Tirah Valley on Friday to meet families affected by recent operations, listened to their grievances and issued directives for their immediate resolution.
Addressing the affected people, the chief minister termed the situation in Tirah “unacceptable,” questioning the effectiveness of repeated security operations. He said that despite 22 major and nearly 14,000 small-scale operations, peace had still not been ensured. “What guarantee is there now that peace will be restored?” he asked.
