No military operation underway in Tirah, migration seasonal routine: Khawaja Asif

Federal Minister for Defence Khawaja Asif on Tuesday clarified that the recent migration from the Tirah Valley is a centuries-old winter routine rather than a security crisis.

Addressing the ongoing situation, the federal minister stated that “the movement of people from Tirah and adjacent areas occurs every harsh winter and it has nothing to do with armed forces or even the federal government.”

He said this addressing a press conference, while flanked by Federal Minister for Information and Broadcasting Attaullah Tarar and Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) leader Ikhtiyar Khan Wali.

Asif emphasised that the armed forces have not launched a large-scale operation in the region for years, instead relying on targeted Intelligence-Based Operations (IBOs) against an estimated 500 TTP members to maintain peace.

He noted that a 26-member jirga met with the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government in December, leading to the announcement of a Rs4 billion migration package—an arrangement strictly between the provincial government and local elders.

“All this has nothing to do with the armed forces,” Asif stated, adding that the provincial government is attempting to shift the blame for its own administrative failures onto the military.

In a significant claim, the defence minister stated that 12,000 acres of hemp are harvested in the region, generating enormous revenue. He said that the dividends from this harvest are shared between political figures and the TTP, creating a “common interest” while ignoring the lack of facilities like police stations and schools in the region.

He further questioned the transparency of the provincial exchequer, urging journalists to investigate how the Rs4 billion allocated for the migration package was actually spent.

The minister reaffirmed that the federal government remains ready to assist the KP government, provided the focus shifts toward genuine public welfare.

Echoing these concerns, Ikhtiyar Wali accused the KP government of diverting funds meant for public welfare to finance political street movements. He called for strict accountability regarding the use of these public funds.