October 10, 2026
By Islam Gul
BARA
Following reports that the expected return of displaced people from Tirah Valley on October 10 has been postponed, a large jirga of thousands of affected people and tribal elders was held in Bara. Participants demanded that they be allowed to go back to their homes without further waiting.
According to the displaced, the agreement stipulated that their return would take place within two months. But after nine months had passed, when October 10 was announced as the date, hope arose that the hardships of displacement would come to an end. However, two days ago, security forces and district officials informed the 24-member committee of local elders about the change of date, after which this jirga was convened.
‘We will go back no matter what’
A 24-member committee comprising representatives of the area’s six tribes had been formed to handle matters related to the displacement from Tirah. At the jirga, the committee asked participants whether they wanted to wait longer or return. People became agitated at this and said they could not wait any longer under any circumstances. Each tribe, after separate consultations, also placed the same position before the committee.
Malik Zahir Shah Afridi, a key member of the committee, said that the government had fixed the date for return three months ago, and lists of the families to be sent back had also been handed over to the district administration.
“Two days ago, we were told that return on the said date was not possible. Today, the elders of the Afridi tribes were called for consultation. Everyone is agreed that they will go back to their homes no matter what. Today we will talk to the government. If any talk of further delay comes up, we will convene a large consultative jirga in Bara on October 11, in which people will decide whether to begin the return from October 11 or to do so after a day or two of completing preparations.” he told Voicepk.
The delay has been attributed by officials to law and order problems in the country. The agreement has still not surfaced
In early January this year, residents of the remote Tirah Valley in Khyber district were forced to leave their homes for the second time due to unrest and clashes between armed groups and security forces. The process began under an agreement of more than 30 points between security forces, district officials, and the 24-member committee. However, the agreement and the notification regarding the evacuation have still not been made public, raising questions about the entire process. A few weeks ago, the committee had announced that 100 families would be sent back in the initial days of October 10, with the number to be increased later.
A sit-in by the “Tehreek-e-Mutasireen” has been under way for the past six to seven months in front of the Bara Press Club, to resolve issues including the registration of displaced families and financial assistance. “Since day one, our demand has been that the agreement and notification regarding the displacement be made public. Our position on the return is also the same,” Sohbat Khan Afridi, the movement’s spokesman, said.
Strongly criticizing the 24-member committee, he alleged that over the past nine months the committee had not made the actual situation clear to the affected people. In his words, the announcement of the return was far removed from reality, and through it the displaced had been deceived once again. He demanded that the return begin with dignity and immediately, but that the process be transparent and provide all necessary facilities so that people do not face further hardships.
‘Our hearts are broken’
Karim Afridi, a head of a displaced family, had completed all preparations for the return. He said the news of the change of date has disappointed thousands of families like his. “We were extremely happy about the return and hopeful that we would go to our homes. The cold wave is about to begin. Snowfall and heavy rains will damage the houses so much that our problems will double. When we saw the video statement released on social media saying that return on October 10 was not possible, we were very disappointed. Our hearts are broken.”
Repeated attempts to contact Khyber district officials regarding the return and the number of displaced people yielded no response. According to PDMA, verification of 22,710 families from Tirah Valley has been completed so far, and they have been provided financial assistance. However, complaints persist regarding registration, financial assistance, and other matters. In recent months the government has made several new plans, but complaints have not decreased.