December 29, 2025
By Islam Gul
PESHAWAR
Students held a silent protest in Bara, the commercial center of Khyber district, demanding the recovery of missing Peshawar University students and opposing the forced displacement from Tirah Valley.
Mouths gagged, hands holding banners
In a protest organized by Pashtun Students Khyber organisation at Khyber Chowk in Bara, young demonstrators wore gags over their mouths and carried banners expressing their demands. The protesters marched on foot from Khyber Chowk to Bara Press Club.
Hashim Khan Afridi, President of Bara Siasi Ittehad, explained that the primary purpose of this silent protest by young people is to send a clear message to the ruling class. “We are facing heavy loss of life and property due to continuous unrest. Whoever raises their voice against this is also silenced,” he said.
Regarding the displacement from Tirah Valley, he clarified that the alliance’s position is to support whatever decision the local elders and provincial government make together.
Missing students: arrests following return from peace Jirga
Naqeebullah Afridi, a student at FATA University, provided details, stating that two students from Peshawar University also participated in the peace jirga convened by the provincial government on October 12. “Adnan Khan from the Department of Political Science and Habib Wazir from the Department of International Relations participated in the jirga like other individuals. However, upon their return, they were disappeared along with five other people. Despite repeated efforts, the arrested individuals have not been presented in any court,” Naqeebullah said.
He added: “Once again, the process of forced eviction of the local population from Tirah Valley has begun, causing severe difficulties for the people.”
Three years of ongoing violence and climate of fear
For the past three years, clashes between security forces and armed groups have continued in Tirah Valley. People living in the area are living in extreme fear, and innocent people have been targeted in multiple incidents.
The government repeatedly asked the local population to vacate the area to establish peace, but political leadership and local people continued to refuse.
Displacement agreement
After prolonged negotiations, an agreement on displacement was reached between Tirah Valley’s 24-member committee, security forces, and district administration. Key conditions of the agreement include:
– Registration: Registration of all displaced families from January 10 to January 25
– Return: Commencement of return process from April 5
– Compensation: Rs 3 million for completely demolished houses, Rs 1 million for partial damage
– Cash assistance: 250,000 rupees cash aid after biometric verification and monthly payments of 50,000 rupees
– Other facilities: Provision of transport, medical facilities, and food
According to sources, biometric verification facilities will be available at Bagh Center and Pandi China locations. Families who relocate before January 10 will be included in the formal survey.
Chief minister’s opposition to Tirah operation
Due to a possible military operation, the population of 250,000 to 300,000 people in Tirah Valley is being forced to relocate for the second time. This valley is the ancestral area of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Sohail Afridi.
During his recent visit to his constituency, the Chief Minister once again rejected the military operation in Tirah Valley. Addressing a public gathering, he said the provincial government convened a peace jirga on October 12, but seven guests were arrested and disappeared upon their return.
“This action shows who is not serious about establishing peace. A peace jirga was convened, and people who participated in it were disappeared in an attempt to sabotage the jirga. You don’t want peace and don’t want to eliminate terrorism. Your purpose is revenge, which I and the entire Pashtun nation know,” Chief Minister Sohail Afridi said in his address.
“Twenty-two operations have been conducted for peace, but peace has not been established. Operations are not the solution to problems. Here, decisions are made in closed rooms. The entire nation’s demand is that there should be no military operation,” he said.
Expressing regret about the Tirah agreement, he said: “Local people are doing all this under compulsion, suffering from severe difficulties.”
Recent terrorism incidents
On December 20, an IED bomb attack occurred on a security forces convoy in Karapah area, Barqambar Khel limits of Barra. According to local sources, three soldiers were martyred and two were injured in the blast.
Earlier, on December 17, a security forces convoy was targeted with explosives planted in a motorcycle near Barra Bazaar on the Pak-Afghan Highway, injuring eight security personnel.
Local tribal opposition
Regarding the displacement agreement, elders of the local Malik Din Khel tribe of Tirah Valley rejected the agreement during a press conference at Barra Press Club.
“The agreement made by the 24-member committee of Tirah Valley with the government regarding displacement was finalized without consultation with local tribes, which is unacceptable under any circumstances,” local elder Muhammad Iqbal said.
“Hundreds of local people participating in the grand jirga rejected the displacement, yet the committee made the agreement anyway. Making such sensitive and collective decisions without public opinion and tribal consultation is contrary to tribal traditions and principles,” he added.
The elders demanded that the government immediately review this agreement and take all concerned tribes into confidence. They also mentioned the losses in Pir Mela Bazaar and demanded immediate assistance for the affected people.
A jirga is being held on Monday to restore confidence, where the 24-member committee will present its position.
According to sources, a meeting with the Chief Secretary, IG FC North, Commissioner Peshawar, and Deputy Commissioner Khyber is expected, where consideration will be given to restoring the committee’s confidence in the displacement procedure.
According to the committee, some conditions related to displacement are directly linked with security forces, including important issues such as permanent peace in the area, return of displaced persons according to schedule, and no occupation of local people’s lands.
After the meeting, a notification regarding displacement from Tirah Valley will be issued, which has not been issued so far.
PTI’s opposition
The ruling party in the province, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf, is not only expressing detachment from this agreement but is also strongly opposing displacement from the area and any kind of military operation.
2013 displacement
Due to sectarian-based insurgency and military operations against armed groups in Tirah Valley, in 2013, local people relocated to camps, rented houses, and relatives’ homes in Peshawar, Kohat, and other areas.
One year later, the process of returning displaced persons began. However, people’s homes in the area had been destroyed and agricultural lands had become barren. Basic facilities had been completely eliminated. The local population had started a difficult life anew in the area through self-help.
Now, eleven years later, the residents of Tirah are once again forced to bid farewell to their ancestral area under the shadow of uncertainty and fear.