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.

Asif further stated that hemp was being harvested in Tirah over 12,000 acres. Hemp harvested over each acre gave a profit of around Rs3-3.5 million, he said, adding that “this is a major factor” in this matter.

He said that hemp had several uses, including in medicines, construction material and bricks.

“Hemp is harvested there and dividends earned from it either go to the people associated with politics or the TTP. We have initiated measures to stop this, so that [Tirah’s] people benefit from this harvest, and schools and hospitals are constructed there,” Asif added.

He went on to allege that the interests of the provincial government aligned with that of the TTP in Tirah, “as they are together exploiting this source (hemp)”.

The minister recalled that the jirga in Tirah had held meetings on December 11, 21 and 31 last year on the matter.

“It has been meeting the civilian government. You don’t see the military anywhere in this [matter]. And this jirga was constituted many years ago […] And all 24 members of the jirga are onboard. All the things that I have listed that are required there [Tirah], it is their (jirga) demand. Now, in the presence of jirga and this notification, where do you see the military’s [involvement] in this?” Asif said.

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