No directives have been issued for the depopulation of Tirah by the federal government and the armed forces
ISLAMABAD:
The government has taken note of “misleading claims” circulating regarding an alleged “depopulation” of the Tirah Valley on orders from the army, the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting said in a statement on Saturday.
These claims are baseless, malicious and motivated by ulterior motives to alarm the public, misinform security institutions and promote vested political interests, the statement said, adding that no directives have been issued for the depopulation of Tirah by the federal government and the armed forces.
The Ministry of Information noted that law enforcement agencies regularly conduct targeted, intelligence-driven operations strictly against terrorist elements, taking care to avoid disrupting peaceful civilian life for which no depopulation or migration is required or undertaken. It can be noted that the local population is increasingly concerned about the presence of the Khwarij and wishes peace and stability in Tirah.
The Relief, Rehabilitation and Resettlement Department of the Government of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa has issued a notification for the release of funds on December 26, 2025 (4 billion rupees) for the planned temporary and voluntary movement of the population of certain localities in Tirah (Bagh), and requested to facilitate advance preparation and relief-related arrangements, including transportation, food support, cash assistance, as well as establishment and management of transit points and registration, the press release indicates.
The document further stated that “Deputy Commissioner, Khyber, further indicated that the proposed voluntary movement reflects the views and preferences of the local people, expressed through a representative jirga convened at the district level, taking into account seasonal, logistical and contextual considerations, as well as an out-of-camp modality.”
Therefore, any stated position of the provincial government or its officials conveyed to the media that the said migration has anything to do with the armed forces is false and fabricated, given with the dishonest intention of gaining political capital and unfortunately harming the security institutions and is therefore highly regrettable, the ministry said.
