No question of military operation in Tirah, govt says

Defence Minister Khawaja Asif said on Tuesday that there was no question of a military operation in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s Tirah Valley, whose residents have been vacating there houses in recent days amid concerns about a military action against terrorists.

Asif made these remarks during a press conference in Islamabad, where he was flanked by Information Minister Attaullah Tarar and Special Assistant to the Prime Minister for Information and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Affairs Ikhtiar Wali Khan.

At the outset of the press conference, he said members of the banned Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan had been residing in Tirah with their families. “They are around 400-500 in number,” he said.

The defence minister further stated that the provincial government had approved a package of Rs4 billion for the people of Tirah Valley, who were to migrate.

“The armed forces deployed in that area have nothing to do with it. This is an arrangement between the jirga and the provincial government, and as a result of that, this notification was issued,” he added, holding up a notification that he said was issued by the KP government.

The defence minister further stated that a military operation in the area had been carried out years ago. “And it was strategically decided then that intelligence-based operations (IBO) are way more effective than operations; the collateral damage is way less. So, the armed forces have stopped the operation since years now in favour of the IBOs,” he said.

The minister added, “This is why this practice has been ongoing there for many years, and that is why there is no question of any operation there.”

Moreover, the minister continued, migration in the valley was a routine practice.

He also criticised the KP government’s performance, highlighting a lack of hospitals, schools and police stations in the valley. “Even though, it had been agreed between the provincial government and the jirga that hospitals, police stations and girls’ schools will be established there.”

The minister claimed that there was a “complete absence of civilian law enforcement agencies” in Tirah. “There is no police station there,” he added.

More to follow

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