Government sources have confirmed that authorities have decided to take action against terrorists in the Bajaur and Khyber districts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. This decision was made after negotiations between the militants and the Bajaur Amn Jirga failed. Tribal elders had presented three demands during the talks, including the expulsion of militants from the tribal area.
According to official sources, there are approximately 300 terrorists in two areas of Tehsil Mamund in Bajaur, and over 350 in Khyber district. The population of Tehsil Mamund is more than 300,000, and over 40,000 people have already relocated to other areas from Bajaur. Official sources also state that more than 80% of the terrorists in Khyber and Bajaur are Afghan.
Speaking to Geo News, Malakand Division Commissioner Abid Wazir said that arrangements have been made to house displaced people in over 100 government buildings in the Khar area of Bajaur. He added, “A tent camp will also be set up in the Sports Complex of Khar,” and confirmed that all necessary facilities would be provided to the displaced persons.
According to The News, a curfew has been enforced from 11 am to 11 pm on all main roads connected to the district headquarters, Khar. In Mamond tehsil, a three-day curfew was imposed in about 27 localities, lasting from 11 am on August 11 until 11 am on August 14. Residents were instructed to conclude all activities by 10:30 am and remain indoors during this period. Authorities warned that anyone violating the restrictions would be held responsible for any untoward incidents. The district administration also reported a significant movement of people out of Mamond tehsil over the past several days.
A report from The News published on August 9 mentioned that security forces had presented tribal jirgas in Bajaur with multiple options for negotiating with the “khawarij” — the outlawed Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP). Security sources had stated that the first option required the terrorists to leave Bajaur, while the second involved the evacuation of tribes to allow for a full-scale operation to eliminate the khawarij. The sources had ruled out any government-level talks with the terrorists and their facilitators, asserting that negotiations would not be an option until the militants fully submitted to the state. They claimed that the terrorists were using negotiations as a cover to prepare for war and were living among the general population in Bajaur while simultaneously engaging in terrorist and criminal activities.
This decision comes as the country has seen a rise in terror activities since 2021, particularly in KP and Balochistan. A report from the Pakistan Institute for Conflict and Security Studies (PICSS), an Islamabad-based think tank, revealed there were 78 terrorist attacks across the country in June, resulting in at least 100 deaths. The fatalities included 53 security personnel, 39 civilians, six militants, and two members of local peace committees. A total of 189 people were injured, with 126 from the security forces and 63 civilians. In total, the violence and operations in June led to 175 deaths, including 55 security personnel, 77 militants, 41 civilians, and two peace committee members.
