Ashrafuddin Pirzada
KHYBER: A tense calm settled over Tirah Valley, the far-flung hilly area of Khyber district, on Monday after intense clashes between security forces and militants subsided late Sunday.
Gunship helicopters patrolled the skies by midday, while most residents stayed indoors, wary of the volatile situation.
Locals reported hearing artillery fire, helicopter strikes and gunfire throughout the day.
While the intensity of the fighting remained unclear due to residents staying in their homes, many expressed fear over the presence of drones, including a large, unfamiliar one spotted on Monday evening.
A resident said how a recent quadcopter attack in the Peer Mela area left over a dozen children injured, deepening the community’s anxiety.
The Bagh Markaz in Malakdinkhel and Doonga in Shalobar areas in Tirah witnessed heavy exchanges of gunfire on Monday.
Both security forces and militant groups, including Lashkar-i-Islam and the Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan, have remained silent on the damage caused to life and property.
In Malakdinkhel, a paramedic treated three residents for injuries caused by mortar shell shrapnel. While they were discharged after first aid, others with similar injuries were reportedly taken to the Mishti area of Orakzai tribal district. The paramedic confirmed that a mortar shell also caused a fire at the Bagh Markaz Market, destroying a flour shop, two cosmetic shops, a shoe shop, and a clinic.
Despite this, the market reopened by midday.
The Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) has yet to confirm the clashes in Tirah. However, local leaders have raised serious concerns over the deteriorating security situation.
MNA Iqbal Afridi criticized the ongoing military operations, calling them “so-called intelligence-based actions” that have harmed civilians more than addressing militancy. He questioned the rationale for these operations and highlighted fears of mass displacement among residents.
MPA Abdul Ghani decried the increasing insecurity in the valley and pledged to raise the issue in the provincial assembly. He insisted that state institutions must fulfill their constitutional duty to protect citizens.
Former federal minister Hamidullah Jan Afridi said Tirah residents felt betrayed despite their sacrifices for peace. He questioned how militants had re-entered the valley after the military operations of 2014-15, holding current representatives responsible for failing to convey the community’s grievances to the higher authorities.
