April 8, 2025
By Iqra Manzoor
LAHORE
Tragedy struck the Mastikhel area of the Tirah Valley on April 6, when alleged firing by security forces, ended up killing 12-year-old Aamina. The shell hit the residence of Meenat Khan, resulting in the child’s death and sparking outrage among local residents.
In protest, community members carried Aamina’s body to the nearby army camp, where they staged a demonstration and pelted a security vehicle with stones. The incident further deepened tensions in a region already grappling with instability and repeated displacements. Aamina was later laid to rest in her ancestral graveyard, with a large number of locals attending her funeral in a show of grief and solidarity.
Beneath Tirah’s troubled land, lie the unmarked graves of countless people. The land has been a silent witness to the slaughter of thousands over time.
A community leader from Tirah, closely associated with Aamina’s family, spoke to Voicepk and expressed deep sorrow over the tragedy.
“All of us, the residents of Tirah, are in profound grief over the loss of this innocent girl,” he said. “But we have no expectations of compensation from the administration because they have not even bothered to reach out to the family, nor have they condemned the killing of the child. We appeal to the Chief Minister to take immediate action against this injustice.”
He is frustrated with the growing challenges of the region.
“The situation in Tirah is highly complicated at present,” he comments. “Once again, people are being displaced. After the first wave of displacement, families had painstakingly rebuilt their homes—but now, displacement has resumed, forcing them to start over yet again.”
In the past three months, more than 20 incidents of mortar shells hitting local homes have occurred, confirm local sources. Despite repeated assurances from security officials, these incidents continue, they say.
Journalist warns of mounting civilian toll
Meanwhile, journalist from Khyber Pukhtunkhwa (KP), Farzana Ali, who has extensively covered the plight of displaced persons from Tirah, also shared a critical perspective on the ongoing crisis.
“Aamina is sadly not the first victim of such incidents in Tirah,” she said. “There have been two decades of this ongoing violence. We don’t even know the true number of innocent civilians who have been killed or rendered destitute—whether due to mortar fire or landmines left behind after operations. Yet, no one talks about ensuring the safety and protection of innocent lives.”
Commenting on the current security situation in Tirah, she adds, “Although the ongoing operation is not as intense as the one in 2009, incidents of civilian casualties continue to surface. Whenever military operations are underway, reports of deaths caused by mortar shells become a grim routine. This is part of a much larger and critical crisis unfolding along the Pak-Afghan border, where communities living near the frontier continue to suffer the consequences.”
She recalls a documentary that she produced in 2009, where she explored the concept of collateral damage and how it has devastated local communities.
“Back then, when I had questioned a defense expert about the killing of innocent civilians, he had responded saying that such incidents were unfortunately ‘a global norm’ during military operations.”
Usually when locals express rage over such tragedies, a jirga is convened. Eventually, the matter is settled through compensation to the affected families, she informed.
“In the past, people from Tirah have fled to Jamrud and Peshawar, living in camps or renting small spaces—some even took shelter in caves,” she said. “Families spent 12 to 15 years struggling to access basic necessities. That same cycle of displacement and hardship is starting again. The government must take urgent notice of this worsening situation and act to protect human rights and prevent further suffering.
Awaiting peace and compensation
Despite their deep connection to the land, operations by the military have repeatedly displaced the Tirah residents and they have been forced to seek refuge in safer areas. Since 2011, the region has been the site of ongoing military operations between Pakistan’s security forces and militant groups. But even today they still continue to face uncertainty and hardship.
In 2012, large-scale evacuations were carried out due to intensified military action. A year later, in 2013, security forces declared the region peaceful, prompting a gradual return of displaced families. However, only a small number of people began to make their way back, and those who did found their homes lay in ruins—structures flattened, infrastructure crippled, and essential services non-existent.”.
In response, the government announced compensation for those whose houses had been partially or completely destroyed during the conflict. Local sources confirm that while some affected families have received compensation, many still continue to wait. Numerous claims remain unresolved, leaving people to endure harsh weather conditions and a lack of basic facilities as they struggle to rebuild their lives.
Forced to flee again
The return of displaced families to Tirah has been slow and staggering over the years, with only a small number making their way back initially. Despite limited resources, these families began rebuilding their lives, constructing makeshift shelters and striving to restore some sense of normalcy in their ancestral homeland.
Following the return of residents in 2013, there was a visible restoration of peace in the region, say locals. Security was tight, with a heavy presence of check posts and surveillance. However, since last year, the situation has deteriorated significantly, they claim.
Approximately three months ago, security forces launched another operation against militant groups in Tirah, triggering a fresh wave of displacement. Once again, residents are being forced to flee their homes, caught in the crossfire of renewed conflict and instability. This marks yet another chapter in a long history of forced migration in the region, following previous large-scale displacements caused by military operations against militant groups in 2009 and 2012.
Growing local resistance
Sources familiar with the current situation in Tirah have shared updates on the ongoing relocation concerns among residents. A few families have relocated, but this marks the second time that people are being forced to leave their homeland. This time, however, local elders have openly opposed the military operation and have firmly stated that “they will not evacuate under any circumstances”—signaling growing frustration and resistance within the community.
If peace remains elusive, the mountains of Tirah will continue to echo with the silence of loss. The people need not only compensation—but a guarantee of life with dignity and safety.