KHYBER: Tension has gripped parts of Tirah Valley as armed militants from Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) and Lashkar-e-Islam (LI) have started patrolling the area, leaving residents anxious about their safety and urging authorities to bolster security measures, Dawn news reported on Tuesday.
Residents of Pir Mela and Maidan conveyed their concerns to Dawn, reporting that while local markets remain open and traffic flows as usual, the resurgence of militant activity in the valley has heightened their fears. According to locals, the militants, previously confined to areas such as Bar Qambarkhel, Adamkhel, Thiyrai, and Landawar in Shalobar, as well as Pir Mela in Zakhakhel and Bhutan Shareef and Sanda Pal, had not been openly patrolling main roads and markets until now.
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Videos circulating on social media depict armed TTP fighters in Pir Mela Bazaar, further alarming residents who are now calling for action by the security forces. A Pir Mela local expressed frustration, noting that while ordinary citizens are routinely subjected to body searches at checkpoints, militants appear to move about freely.
The resident further claimed that the local police and Levies forces have become nearly absent since the emergence of TTP and LI militants in the region, leading to a growing sense of insecurity among the population. “The situation is very tense, and people have lost confidence in law enforcement due to their apparent indifference to militant activities,” he said.
A resident from Maidan added that the fear of a potential military operation against the militants has kept people confined to their homes. “We cannot afford to relocate again, having already endured significant losses during our last displacement. Many of us have yet to rebuild our homes or restart our livelihoods”.
Locals from Sanda Pal, Bhutan Shareef, and Dars Jumaat reported that militants have been demanding food and shelter, which they feel compelled to provide out of fear of retaliation. They also expressed concern that providing such assistance could lead to their homes being targeted by security forces at night, under the guise of striking militant positions.
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A Pashto pamphlet shared on social media claims that TTP militants have established control over Peer Tharee in Shalobar and Bhutan, and have begun patrolling Pir Mela Bazaar and its surroundings after security forces allegedly vacated their positions. However, residents refuted these claims, asserting that security forces remain in the area but have not yet intervened to stop the militant patrols.