By Fazal Amimn
KHYBER: In view of rising tension and uncertainty in the Tirah Valley of Khyber district, a high-level jirga comprising tribal elders, religious scholars, traders, and political representatives convened on Monday to deliberate on the security situation and a recent advisory from security forces urging residents to temporarily vacate the area.
According to sources, the jirga was attended by prominent religious figures, Maulana Hazrat Khan, Maulana Mahboob, and Maulana Haiwa Jan; tribal elders Adam Khan, Malik Naseer Khan, and Zahid Khan; as well as members of the Tirah Traders Union, representatives of the Tirah Political Alliance, and a large number of residents.
During the session, security officials reportedly briefed the elders on potential threats and advised them to vacate the valley as a precautionary measure. However, the tribal elders did not immediately agree, asserting that abandoning their ancestral homeland would be considered only as a “last resort.” They stressed that any such decision would be taken collectively and through consensus among the tribal leadership.
Later, a delegation of elders met with security officials at the Tirah Brigade headquarters, where they requested a one-day extension to continue consultations with local stakeholders.
The jirga participants announced that a grand jirga of the Afridi tribes would be convened on Tuesday to finalize the community’s collective response and determine the next course of action.
The situation in Tirah remains tense, with residents expressing concern over the prospect of displacement amid ongoing security operations. The valley, long considered a strategically sensitive area, has witnessed sporadic unrest in recent weeks, prompting fears of renewed instability in the region.
