February 2, 2026
By Islam Gul
ISLAMABAD/KHYBER
On Monday, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Sohail Afridi met with Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif in Islamabad. The meeting took place a day after a peace jirga held in Jamrud, Khyber District, where discussions centered on the ongoing displacement from Tirah and potential military operations.
According to official media, the Prime Minister emphasized the need for cooperation between federal and provincial governments for the progress and prosperity of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s people. He termed cooperation between federal and provincial governments essential for peace and security in the province, stating: “There is a need to further enhance the provincial government’s efforts for establishing peace and order.”
The Prime Minister further said: “The provincial government should strengthen provincial institutions for counter-terrorism. The federal and provincial governments will continue joint efforts for the complete elimination of terrorism.”
He advised the provincial government to fulfill its constitutional responsibilities for establishing peace and order and public welfare in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, adding: “The provincial government is empowered; measures should be taken for the people of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa in health and education.”
The Prime Minister assured: “The federal government has always been striving for the betterment of the people of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. Khyber Pakhtunkhwa is an important unit of the federation, and the federal government will continue its full efforts according to its jurisdiction for the prosperity of the province’s people.”
“Close ties and effective communication between the federation and provinces are essential for national development and public service. The federal government is committed to the vision of taking all provinces along and ensuring equal development. Through mutual consultation and collaboration, the goals of national unity, stability, and prosperity can be achieved effectively,” the prime minister added.
Peace Jirga in Jamrud
A day earlier, a peace jirga was held at Jamrud Football Ground in Khyber District’s Jamrud tehsil by the Chief Minister of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa in the context of ongoing displacement from Tirah and statements of the federal government’s dissociation from operations. The jirga was attended by Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf’s elected assembly members, local leadership, area elders, and representative delegations of displaced families from Tirah.
Addressing the peace jirga, Chief Minister Sohail Afridi expressed regret over recent incidents in Balochistan. He said: “The participation of such a large number of people in the jirga is proof that people want peace and are against forced displacement.”
He said that the federal government’s statements regarding forced displacement from Tirah and possible military operations are regrettable and will further add to the problems of affected people. According to him, jirgas will be held in all tribal districts in the future to gauge public opinion, and a final jirga will be held in Peshawar.
The Chief Minister said: “Today’s jirga has to decide whether they want to return to Tirah or go to Islamabad for protest.”
Regarding assistance to displaced persons, the Chief Minister announced that the provincial government has released four billion rupees and strict action will be taken against anyone involved in any kind of corruption. According to him, more funds will be released if needed.
“So far, the federation has done nothing to help displaced persons, and false propaganda in this regard is regrettable,” he added.
The Chief Minister announced that a bank account will be opened in the name of Chief Minister’s Relief Fund to help displaced persons, in which an appeal will be made to all philanthropists for financial support.
Voice of the displaced
Forty-year-old Abdul Mannan has been displaced from Tirah and participated in the peace jirga held in Jamrud. He said: “I am participating in the Chief Minister’s jirga with the hope that the problems of displaced persons will be solved and measures are expected for people’s return to their areas so that they don’t have to leave their homes again due to unrest.”
Khanzada is a tribal leader and belongs to the Barqambar Khel tribe of Bara. He attended the jirga with other companions. He said: “The expectation from today’s jirga is that the Chief Minister will announce more measures to reduce the problems of displaced persons and will immediately devise an effective plan of action for the return of displaced people.”
However, representative delegations from Tirah participated in the peace jirga but took the position that they were not given an opportunity to speak on stage. They said that they had come with the hope that they would present the problems of displaced persons before the Chief Minister of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, but unfortunately, that did not happen.
Political leadership’s response
Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf local leader Shamshir Afridi said: “Today’s peace jirga was successful and it will lead to establishing peace in the province, reducing problems of displaced persons from Tirah, and improving tense relations with the federal government.” He said that currently the provincial government is providing all possible cooperation to displaced persons from Tirah and more measures will be taken if needed.
Youth Minister Mudassar Moin also participated in the Jamrud jirga. He said: “The jirga held by the political alliance in Bara had nothing but political statements and criticism of PTI. All national media were invited to the said jirga as propaganda, but no one even uttered a word about the killing of more than twenty innocent people in a past incident.” He said there is a need to resolve political differences through dialogue.
Malik Asrar Afridi, representing local elders, said: “There is a need to establish permanent peace in tribal districts because people have been facing heavy financial and human losses for the past two decades.” He also openly criticized the jirga held by the political alliance in Bara and took the position that it is not appropriate to blame PTI for the displacement from Tirah. He paid tribute to the Chief Minister of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa for giving an effective response to political statements from the federation.
Background
This peace jirga was held in Sohail Afridi’s electoral constituency. Earlier, a peace jirga was also held by him in Bara where he strongly opposed possible military operations and displacement of local people. He had said that he would soon visit other tribal districts where he would consult on establishing permanent peace in those areas. However, he did not make these visits, although a jirga of all political parties was held in the provincial assembly on November 12.
After the conclusion of the jirga, six people were disappeared, including two important leaders of the banned Pashtun Tahafuz Movement, Manzoor Pashteen and Noorullah Tariq, and two students of Peshawar University. Both PTM leaders remain missing to date.
In the context of the current situation from Tirah valley, a ceremony was also organized on January 31 in Bara by the political alliance under the name of Khyber Peace Jirga, but when victims of Tirah valley were not given an opportunity to speak, their leader Sabhat Khan announced a boycott and left the event with his companions.
Relief measures
According to a statement issued by the Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA), four billion rupees have been allocated for the migration of population from certain areas of Tirah valley and the facilitation of affected families.
According to the statement, out of these, Rs 92 crore have been spent by January 31, 2026, only on providing transport for affected families, during their travel, and providing ready-made food. A complete record of these expenditures has been prepared, which includes verification by district administration and local elders and signatures of recipients along with identity cards so that a complete audit can be conducted at any time.
In addition, an amount of Rs 2.4 billion has been allocated for relief compensation packages and monthly assistance to victims. This amount will be given through digital payment in their accounts after complete registration and verification through NADRA. Transparency and complete auditable records are being arranged for compensation payments.
Under the approved procedure, verification and supervision by district administration after listing, scanning, recording, and installation of equipment have been ensured so that records, resources, and public funds are protected.
Current situation
Currently, the process of displacement continues not only from Tirah valley of Khyber district but also from various villages of Central Kurram in Kurram district. According to PDMA, more than sixteen thousand families have been registered so far at registration centers established in Bagan and Khar Kalay. In the mentioned statistics, more than six thousand families are staying in established camps while the rest are residing in rented houses or with relatives.
Provincial and central government statements mention the ongoing displacement from the valley, but nothing is clear regarding Kurram.