By Ashrafuddin Pirzada
KHYBER: The second round of peace talks between the Khyber grand jirga and different militant groups in the Tirah valley was held on Tuesday, marking another step in ongoing tribal efforts to restore peace in the restive region, sources said.
The meeting was held in the Tirah Bagh area, which was attended by key tribal elders and political figures from Landikotal and Bara tehsils, including Malik Tajuddin, Mufti Muhammad Ijaz, Malik Razzaq Zakhakhel, Malik Tahir Khan, Malik Zair Ahmad Shah, Malik Khalid Khan and Malik Parvez Shinwari.
According to Jirga sources, the delegation met with two separate militant factions. One group comprised representatives of Hafiz Gul Bahadur, Lashkar-e-Islam and Jamaat-ul-Ahrar, while the other represented the banned Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP).
During the talks, jirga members firmly urged both groups to vacate the area voluntarily to prevent a possible military operation by security forces. They warned that any delay in withdrawal could result in an operation causing large-scale displacement and civilian losses.
Sources said the militant groups indicated willingness to consider leaving the area to avoid harm to civilians. Both factions agreed to continue dialogue and requested time to consult their senior leadership before reaching a final decision.
This was the second phase of peace talks between the jirga and militant factions. Around ten days earlier, the first round was held, during which militants demanded the implementation of Sharia law in the tribal districts.
Local elders expressed cautious optimism that continued dialogue could pave the way for peace and stability in the Tirah valley, which has long suffered from militancy and conflict. However, some sources have confirmed that a few groups were not ready to leave the area, for which the jirga could soon meet again to
