‘Routine Annual’ Term Migration Exercise; He says IBOs are more effective; Denies any military operation underway
ISLAMABAD:
Defense Minister Khawaja Muhammad Asif on Tuesday categorically stated that no military operation was taking place in the Tirah Valley and termed the migration of people as a routine and seasonal process due to bad weather and snowfall.
Addressing a press conference alongside Information Minister Attaullah Tarar and Prime Minister’s Information Coordinator Ikhtiar Wali Khan, the Defense Minister said: “There has been no operation in the Tirah Valley for many years. These are all assumptions.”
The press conference came two days after the federal and provincial governments traded barbs over who was authorizing the evacuation process after hundreds of Tirah residents fled their homes ahead of planned military action against terrorists.
The evacuations, which were carried out according to a plan agreed upon by all stakeholders (including local elders, the provincial government and the military), appear to have become a bone of contention after the displaced population found themselves stranded in cold weather under open skies, and mismanagement by the authorities only compounded their problems.
He said it was strategically decided that intelligence-based operations (IBOs) were more effective than large-scale operations, adding that the military had stopped such operations years ago in favor of IBOs.
Asif said the IBOs would continue to eliminate the menace of terrorism from the country’s soil.
He said that every year around 60 to 65 percent of the population migrates to other areas due to severe weather conditions and heavy snowfall, a practice that has continued for decades and even over the last century.
The minister clarified that the armed forces deployed in the area had no role in the displacement. “This is an agreement between the local jirga and the Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa government,” he said.
He said the KP government had approved a relief package of Rs 4 billion for the people of Tirah Valley who migrate seasonally.
He also criticized the actions of the KP government, highlighting the lack of hospitals, schools and police stations in the valley. The minister stated that there was a “complete absence of civilian law enforcement agencies” in Tirah. “There is no police station there,” he added.
Asif further claimed that hemp was being harvested in Tirah on more than 12,000 acres. Hemp harvested from each acre gave a profit of around Rs 3-3.5 million, he said, adding that “this is an important factor” in this matter.
He said hemp had several uses, including in medicines, building material and bricks.
“Hemp is harvested there and the dividends obtained from it go to people related to politics or the TTP. We have initiated measures to stop this, so that [Tirah’s] “People benefit from this harvest and schools and hospitals are built there,” Asif added.
He went on to claim that the provincial government’s interests align with those of the TTP in Tirah, “as together they are exploiting this source (hemp).”
The minister recalled that the Tirah jirga met on December 11, 21 and 31 last year on this issue.
“He has been meeting with the civilian government. The military is not seen anywhere in this [matter]. And this jirga was established many years ago. [ ] And all 24 members of the jirga are on board. All the things I have listed that are required there. [Tirah]It is their demand (jirga). Now, in the presence of the jirga and this notification, where do you see the attitude of the military? [involvement] in this?” said Asif.
He alleged that the KP government wanted to shift the blame for its “failures” onto the military or an operation that did not even exist.
Then, apparently referring to the movement of people in Tirah, he maintained that this “tradition has existed for decades” due to the climate and topography of the area. It was even mentioned in a British-era newsletter, he added. “This transition happens every year.”
“This is nothing unusual, but the PTI government has tried to do it [appear] unusual,” he said. Furthermore, the KP government had claimed to have spent between Rs 2,000 and Rs 4,000 million on setting up camps for evacuated residents, he said, alleging that these camps did not provide protection from the cold.
He again stated that a military presence or an operation in Tirah was an “assumption.” “No operations have been carried out there for years,” he said.
He added that if the KP government wanted to work for the betterment of the people of Tirah, the federal government would provide the necessary means for the purpose.
Federal Minister for Information and Broadcasting Attaullah Tarar said migration of tribals from Khyber district during winter is a historical norm, rejecting the “baseless narrative” spread by Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government spokesperson.
The minister emphasized that the Afridi and Aka Khel tribes have a unique lifestyle, migrating from Tirah in winter and returning in summer.
Tarar noted that history bears witness to this seasonal migration, citing Edward A Murphy’s 1899 book, The Khyber, which references an official gazetteer from 1880. He noted that this historical record explicitly documents the regular winter migration of tribes, describing it as an established reality recognized in international literature.
Responding to questions about the timing of the current move, the minister explained that while winter traditionally began in October, climate change has significantly changed seasonal cycles. He noted that snowfall, which historically occurred in November, is now delayed until the end of January, which represents a complete seasonal change.
He also referred to a notification issued by the KP government itself, which said that the tribals are moving voluntarily. The minister urged provincial officials to avoid politicizing a centuries-old traditional practice.
