Asif punches holes into K-P's Tirah migration narrative

Terms migration 'routine annual' exercise; Says IBOs more effective; Denies any military operation underway

ISLAMABAD:

Defence Minister Khawaja Muhammad Asif on Tuesday categorically stated that no military operation was being carried out in Tirah Valley, terming the migration of people a routine and seasonal process due to harsh weather and snowfall.

Addressing a news conference along with Information Minister Attaullah Tarar and Prime Minister's Coordinator for Information Ikhtiar Wali Khan, the defence minister said, "There has been no operation in Tirah Valley for many years. These are all assumptions."

The news conference came two days after the federal and provincial governments traded barbs over who authorised the evacuation process after hundreds of Tirah residents vacated their homes ahead of planned military action against terrorists.

The evacuations, which were carried out in line with a plan agreed upon by all stakeholders — including local elders, the provincial government and the military — seem to have become a bone of contention after the displaced populace found themselves stranded in cold weather under open skies, with mismanagement by the authorities only adding to their troubles.

He said that it was strategically decided that intelligence-based operations (IBOs) were more effective than large-scale operations, adding that the armed forces had stopped such operations years ago in favour of IBOs.

Asif said that 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 past century.

The minister clarified that the armed forces deployed in the area had no role in the displacement. "This is an arrangement between the local jirga and the Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa government," he said.

He said that the K-P government had approved a relief package of Rs4 billion for the people of Tirah Valley who migrate seasonally.

He also criticised the K-P government's performance, highlighting a lack of hospitals, schools and police stations in the valley. The minister claimed that there was a "complete absence of civilian law enforcement agencies" in Tirah. "There is no police station there," he added.

Asif further stated that hemp was being harvested in Tirah over 12,000 acres. Hemp harvested over each acre gave a profit of around Rs3-3.5 million, he said, adding that "this is a major factor" in this matter.

He said that hemp had several uses, including in medicines, construction material and bricks.

"Hemp is harvested there and dividends earned from it either go to the people associated with 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 constructed there," Asif added.

He went on to allege that the interests of the provincial government aligned with those of the TTP in Tirah, "as they are together exploiting this source (hemp)".

The minister recalled that the jirga in Tirah had held meetings on December 11, 21 and 31 last year on the matter.

"It has been meeting the civilian government. You don't see the military anywhere in this [matter]. And this jirga was constituted many years ago […] And all 24 members of the jirga are onboard. All the things that I have listed that are required there [Tirah], it is their (jirga) demand. Now, in the presence of the jirga and this notification, where do you see the military's [involvement] in this?" Asif said.

He alleged that the KP government wanted to deflect the blame for its "failures" to the military or an operation that did not even exist.

Then, ostensibly referring to the movement of people in Tirah, he maintained that this "tradition has been in place for decades" due to the climate and topography of the area. It was even mentioned in a gazette from the British era, he added. "This transition takes place every year."

"This is nothing unusual, but the PTI government has tried to make it [appear] unusual," he said. Moreover, the KP government had claimed spending Rs2-4bn on setting up camps for the evacuated residents, he said, alleging that those camps did not protect from the cold.

He again asserted that the military presence or an operation in Tirah was an "assumption". "No operation has been carried out there for years," he maintained.

He added that if the KP government wanted to work for the betterment of the people of Tirah, the federal government would provide it with the wherewithal needed for that purpose.

Federal Minister for Information and Broadcasting Attaullah Tarar said the migration of tribes from District Khyber during the winter is a historical norm, rejecting the "baseless narrative" peddled by the 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 pointed out that this historical record explicitly documents the tribes' habitual winter migration, describing it as an established reality recognized in international literature.

Responding to questions about the timing of the current movement, the minister explained that while winter traditionally began in October, climate change has significantly shifted seasonal cycles. He remarked that snowfall, which historically occurred in November, is now delayed until late January, representing a total seasonal shift.

He also referred to a notification issued by the K-P government itself, which stated that the tribes are moving voluntarily. The minister urged provincial officials to avoid politicizing a centuries-old traditional practice.