Recent allegations of aerial strikes in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s Tirah valley, which reportedly killed at least two dozen civilians, including women and children, have prompted protests and calls for an inquiry from local tribesmen and the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan. Officials, on the other hand, have claimed that the explosions were caused by terrorists who were storing and manufacturing explosive devices inside houses.
During an interview on a television program, a political figure named Wali was questioned about the apparent contradiction in the PTI-led government’s stance on the province’s security situation. Some suggested that the party was supportive of military operations, while others claimed it opposed the measures.
In his response, Wali stated, “Our brothers, sisters, friends, sons, children, and elders in tribal areas should not give refuge to people targeted in military operations.” He asserted that locals should not harbor individuals “who are wanted by the state.” When asked if he was implying that locals were sheltering terrorists, Wali replied, “It certainly cannot be an outsider. How would the terrorists be operating in these areas otherwise?”
He further explained, “Someone has to be giving refuge to them and facilitating them. And when operations are carried out, our citizens also lose their lives.” When pressed to confirm if he was stating that locals of tribal areas were providing refuge to terrorists, Wali did not directly affirm the claim but reiterated his point, saying, “There certainly has to be facilitation from some side.”
The country, particularly KP and Balochistan, has recently seen a significant rise in terrorist incidents, especially after the banned Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) broke a peace deal with the government and vowed to escalate attacks on security forces and law enforcement personnel. Earlier this month, a bomb blast during a cricket match in KP’s Bajaur district killed at least one person. In May, four children and five others were injured in a suspected quadcopter munitions drop in North Waziristan, leading to local protests. Similarly, a reported drone strike in Mardan earlier this year killed 11 people, though officials claimed it was an operation against militants.
