Security forces have presented tribal jirgas in Bajaur with several options for dealing with the outlawed Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) before a major operation begins. According to a report published on Saturday, the operation will be launched if the terrorists do not leave the area.
Security sources say the first option is for the terrorists to voluntarily leave Bajaur. The second option is for the tribes to evacuate the area for a planned operation to neutralize the militants. The sources have firmly ruled out any government-level talks with the terrorists or their facilitators, stating that negotiations will not take place unless the militants completely submit to the state.
It was noted that the terrorists are using the guise of negotiations to prepare for war, living among the general population in Bajaur while continuing their criminal activities. The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government, including Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur, has laid out three clear points for the tribes:
- The militants, most of whom are Afghan citizens, must be expelled from the area.
- If the tribes are unable to expel them, they should evacuate the area for a day or two so security forces can eliminate the terrorists.
- If both options are unfeasible, maximum efforts will be made to protect civilians, as the operation will proceed regardless.
Security sources have stressed that only the state has the authority for armed action and that no compromise can be made with terrorists. The planned operation comes amid a surge in terrorist activities across the country since 2021, particularly in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan.
