A sharp political dispute has emerged between the federal government and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa authorities. This followed after hundreds of residents left Tirah Valley amid heavy snowfall and a planned security operation against militants.
The disagreement follows claims by KP Chief Minister Sohail Afridi that locals were “forced” to abandon their homes. This statement was strongly rejected by federal ministers.
Speaking on Geo News programme Naya Pakistan, Federal Planning Minister Ahsan Iqbal questioned the circumstances under which residents left Tirah.
He stated clearly that the federal government issued no directive for evacuations. Iqbal stressed that law and order remain a provincial responsibility. He urged the KP administration to explain why people were displaced.
He also referenced a late-night clarification from the Ministry of Information, which rejected reports of a large-scale military operation in Tirah. According to Iqbal, linking the displacement to the armed forces amounts to deliberate misinformation.
The Pakistani military is forcing thousands of families to evacuate from Khyber District’s Tirah Valley ahead of a security operation it says will target Pakistani Taliban fighters who now control parts of the region. Al Jazeera’s Kamal Hyder reports. pic.twitter.com/ZpACFW3U7B
— Al Jazeera English (@AJEnglish) January 23, 2026“The KP government must decide whether it stands with terrorists or with the people of Pakistan,” he said. He accused the PTI-led provincial administration of repeatedly targeting state institutions.
Information Minister Attaullah Tarar echoed these concerns. He said the federal government had taken serious notice of what he described as false narratives surrounding Tirah.
He reiterated that claims connecting the evacuation to the military were factually incorrect and risked spreading public panic.
Tirah Velley Humanitarian Situation Amid Snowfall
The political exchange comes as conditions in Tirah deteriorate. Families fleeing the Maidan area have struggled to move because of heavy snowfall and freezing temperatures.
Evacuations began on January 9, ahead of a security operation expected to last two months. Authorities plan rehabilitation and returns from April 5, subject to weather and security conditions.
🚨Tirah Valley Update:
Official documents obtained by P-AM confirm that the recent displacement from Tirah Valley was voluntary, coordinated by the KP Government and Khyber District Administration, and endorsed by local jirgas in October.
The Rs 4 billion allocated for relief… pic.twitter.com/6o1sG8QvD4
— Pak-Afghan Matters (@pakafghanmatter) January 24, 2026According to the Provincial Disaster Management Authority, the Miraban–Tirah Valley Road remains blocked. Snow has also shut key routes, including Kaghan–Naran, Battal, and the Lowari Tunnel.
Read: Pakistan Rejects Claims of Army-Ordered Depopulation in Tirah Valley
Additional road closures have affected Buner, Swat, Chitral, Lower Dir, and Kolai-Palas, with clearance work underway using heavy machinery.
Rescue 1122 has intensified emergency operations in Tirah. Officials confirmed the deployment of 103 personnel from multiple districts.
So far, rescue teams have safely recovered 65 stranded individuals from more than 25 vehicles. Operations are continuing amid severe weather.
KP Chief Minister Rejects Federal Narrative
Addressing party workers in Chakdara, CM Sohail Afridi said residents were compelled to leave due to operational constraints. He insisted the provincial government did not order evacuations.
He warned that if the security operation continued beyond the next few days, the KP government would develop its own response strategy.
Minister for Information and Broadcasting Attaullah Tarar on Sunday categorically denied rumours linking the evacuation of Tirah valley residents to security forces, describing the reports as baseless, fabricated and contrary to facts.
Speaking to media after offering condolences… pic.twitter.com/og6akkgd1k
— PTV News (@PTVNewsOfficial) January 25, 2026Afridi clarified that his party does not oppose the armed forces or state institutions. However, he objects to what he called political interference.
Separately, KP government spokesperson Shafi Jan dismissed federal claims regarding the release of Rs4 billion for displaced families, calling them “highly ridiculous.”
He said the province had already released funds in a timely manner. He also accused the federal government of attempting to shift responsibility for the operation onto KP authorities.
