ISLAMABAD: Thousands of families have started evacuating the restive Tirah Valley in Pakistan’s northwestern Khyber district, an official and a tribal leader said on Saturday, as the country’s security forces prepare for a targeted offensive against militants in the area.
Situated in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, the Tirah Valley has long served as a sanctuary for militant groups affiliated with the banned Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), despite major operations in the mid-2010s.
Sporadic violence and militant entrenchment have nevertheless persisted, with security forces conducting intelligence-based operations in recent years to counter resurging elements.
A senior government official, speaking on condition of anonymity, told Arab News that “evacuation from the Maidan area of Tirah Valley started five days ago in anticipation of a possible operation against terrorists.”
He added that the relocation process will continue until Jan. 25, affecting an estimated 15,000 to 20,000 families.
