July 1, 2025
By Kaleem Ullah
LAHORE
Life in North Waziristan was never this dire—perhaps not even before Operation Zarb-e-Azb in 2014.
But today, residents have been confined to their homes as curfew has been imposed for the past two days. The local administration, on the request of the security forces, has already issued a notification saying that due to the ‘rising wave of terrorism-related incidents’ in the district, a complete ban has been imposed on all movement during the passage of security forces. The notice warns that anyone violating these orders would be ‘shot on the spot’.
Residents are confined at home, patients have been unable to reach hospitals, students have missed their Board exams as papers were canceled. The silence and emptiness of the streets is juxtaposed by the long queues of vehicles filled with people and goods stranded near the Sedgai checkpoint, near Bannu, waiting endlessly for the curfew to be lifted. In short, life has come to a total standstill.
Due to the worsening law and order situation, the Deputy Commissioner of North Waziristan convened a jirga today. Mufti Baitullah, a prominent leader and spokesperson of the Utmanzai Qaumi Jirga (an alliance of all the tribes especially those living in North Waziristan) told Voicepk that the district administration had summoned them and issued threats. Baitullah, who is also a jirgah participant, said that the Deputy Commissioner reportedly told them that the security forces had decided to escalate operations against militants in the area, which could include displacement for civilians and confinement in homes. This is instilled worry and fear among the residents of the area.
“You have been summoned to decide your fate by tomorrow—whether you stand with the security forces or the Taliban,” Mufti Baitullah quoted the official as saying.
He added that they had requested more time, saying, “We told the Deputy Commissioner that we cannot make such an important decision in haste. We need at least one month to consult with all the tribes across North Waziristan.”
Mufti Baitullah also highlighted the economic impact of the crisis, pointing out that the Ghulam Khan border crossing has been closed, causing massive losses for local traders and severely affecting the region.
Meanwhile, Masawar Dawar, a resident of Mir Ali, spoke to Voicepk over the phone.
“Yesterday, the curfew lasted from morning until 7 PM. After just one hour of relaxation, it was re-imposed at 8 PM and remained in effect until morning. The government has decided that this curfew will now be enforced daily from dusk (Maghrib prayer) until dawn for the next month.”
This claim is corroborated by an official notification from the district administration.
“All individuals are directed to comply with this order in letter and spirit, and restrict all kinds of movement within the territorial jurisdiction of District North Waziristan—including all major roads, bypasses, link roads, streets, public gathering areas, bazaars, and business centers—from dusk to dawn for the next 30 days to prevent any untoward incidents and ensure smooth public administration.”
Masawar talks about the how these restrictions have disrupted daily life and caused fear to grip the region. and people are uncertain about their future.
“If a medical emergency arises, it takes a long time to get clearance for an ambulance. You have to submit the ambulance’s number plate to the district administration, which then seeks approval from the security forces and informs the relevant checkpoint. This process takes so long that it’s often too late to save a patient,” he explained.
Although there was no curfew today, hundreds of vehicles carrying food supplies into the district were stopped at the Sedgai checkpoint until 5 PM. Additionally, all non-custom-paid (NCP) vehicles were barred from passing through checkpoints in North Waziristan.
These stringent measures appear to be in response to increasing militant activity in the region. According to local residents, the security situation in North Waziristan has been deteriorating, with frequent attacks on security forces.
In a statement issued by the ISPR, it was confirmed that 13 security personnel were killed in an attack on a convoy in the Khaddi area of North Waziristan on Sunday. In the retaliatory operation, 14 militants were killed. The statement further noted that intelligence-based operations were underway in various areas of Waziristan due to confirmed reports of militant presence.
However, Mufti Baitullah challenged these claims, saying, “They are not targeting the Taliban; it is the civilians who are suffering.”
Rumors are also circulating in Islamabad that the government may be planning to place the former FATA and PATA regions under direct federal control. This move could potentially allow the central government to claim the area’s vast natural resources.
When asked about this, Mohsin Dawar, a former Member of the National Assembly from North Waziristan, told Voicepk that there is indeed a connection between the ongoing insecurity and regional geopolitics—especially the extraction of natural resources like copper, chromite, oil, and gas. “Despite all the instability, the extraction and supply of resources continue smoothly. There is no interference from militants in this regard. This shows the insecurity isn’t random—it’s part of a larger geopolitical agenda,” he said.
Dawar added, “Pakistan is playing a strategic role for the United States in its efforts to contain China. It started with the U.S.-Taliban deal in Doha, which reignited militancy in Afghanistan, and now it’s spilling into Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, likely to spread toward the Wakhan Corridor.”
Mufti Baitullah concluded that, eventually, the administration allowed the vehicles stranded at Sedgai checkpoint to pass and agreed to ease restrictions on NCP vehicles. However, he announced that they have now called for a grand jirga of all tribes from Tehsil Razmak to Datta Khel and Mir Ali to decide the next course of action in the coming days.