ISLAMABAD: Thousands of families have started evacuating the restive Tirah Valley in Pakistan’s northwestern Khyber district, an official and a tribal leader said on Saturday, as the country’s security forces prepare for a targeted offensive against militants in the area.
Situated in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, the Tirah Valley has long served as a sanctuary for militant groups affiliated with the banned Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), despite major operations in the mid-2010s.
Sporadic violence and militant entrenchment have nevertheless persisted, with security forces conducting intelligence-based operations in recent years to counter resurging elements.
A senior government official, speaking on condition of anonymity, told Arab News that “evacuation from the Maidan area of Tirah Valley started five days ago in anticipation of a possible operation against terrorists.”
He added that the relocation process will continue until Jan. 25, affecting an estimated 15,000 to 20,000 families.
“Each displaced family is being provided with Rs250,000 [$893] in one-time financial assistance, along with a monthly stipend of Rs50,000 [$179] until they return home,” the official said, adding that the government will also provide Rs3 million ($10,714) for damage to houses and Rs1 million ($3,571) for commercial damages.
He said authorities are also supplying food items and arranging free transportation for the relocation of the area’s population.
The decision to move comes amid residents’ complaints of a volatile security environment.
Kamaluddin Khan, a member of a local tribal committee representing elders from the region, described the migration as “the last resort” under the circumstances.
“The people of Tirah have decided to relocate under compulsion and that too only once the government and administration accepted their demands,” he told Arab News over the phone, mainly referring to financial assistance and facilitation.
“The situation in Tirah has deteriorated to such an extent that not only humans, but even animals find it difficult to live here. We held several jirgas [tribal councils of elders], but they proved futile,” he added.
Khan described the situation in the area as “highly volatile.”
“The registration process for migration has begun, and people have started leaving the area,” he added. “According to our estimates, around 30,000 people will be affected by this displacement.”
The move follows a bloody year for Pakistan. Combat-related deaths surged by 73 percent in 2025, reaching 3,387 fatalities, according to data from the Pakistan Institute for Conflict and Security Studies, a local think tank.
The organization said in its annual report that security forces suffered 664 deaths — the highest toll since 2011 — while 2,115 militants were killed during the same period.
Pakistan has grappled with a surge in militant attacks in its western provinces of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan, both bordering Afghanistan.
Islamabad blames the Afghan authorities for providing sanctuaries to militants it says use Afghan soil to carry out attacks against Pakistan. Kabul denies the charges.
According to security analysts in the area, the upcoming operation will be more targeted than the previous ones.
Peshawar-based Mehmood Jan Babar maintained that local sentiment has shifted against the militants.
“People are willing to leave their homes themselves,” he told Arab News. “The families with links to militants are also facing public criticism, as the people of Tirah are exhausted by a prolonged law and order situation.”
“The upcoming operation is not likely to result in large-scale displacement,” he continued. “Based on information available to us, it will be a targeted operation.”
Officials said that the operation against militants is expected to conclude within two months, after which the rehabilitation and return process may begin in April.
