Islamabad: The federal government has clarified that neither the government nor the military has issued any orders to evacuate Tirah Valley in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, rejecting reports suggesting otherwise.
In a statement posted on its official X (formerly Twitter) account on Sunday, the Ministry of Information said it had taken notice of what it described as misleading and false news claiming that residents of Tirah Valley were being evacuated on the orders of the armed forces.
The ministry termed these claims “baseless and malicious,” stating that such reports aim to spread fear among the public, circulate disinformation against security institutions, and serve political or personal interests.
According to the statement, law enforcement agencies carry out routine, intelligence-based operations only against terrorist elements, while ensuring that civilian lives are not disrupted.
“It has been made clear that no population displacement or forced migration is required or taking place as part of these operations,” the ministry said.
The statement further noted that the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government’s Relief, Rehabilitation and Settlement Department issued a notification on December 26, 2025, approving the release of Rs4 billion.
The funds, the ministry explained, were allocated solely as a precautionary measure in view of the possibility of temporary and voluntary movement of residents from certain areas of Tirah (Bagh), to ensure preparedness and timely relief if needed.
The notification also clarified that the proposed voluntary relocation reflected the wishes of the local population, as conveyed through a representative jirga held at the district level, according to the Deputy Commissioner of Khyber.
However, the Information Ministry said that any media statement by the provincial government or its officials linking the relocation to the armed forces is false, fabricated, and made with malicious intent.
“These statements are being issued for political gains and regrettably attempt to malign security institutions,” the ministry added.
On January 15, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Sohail Afridi claimed in a post on X that the Tirah operation and the alleged forced displacement were decisions taken behind closed doors for political motives, saying, “Tirah is my home, and its people are my own.”
Evacuation efforts were already underway last week when heavy snowfall began in the area on Thursday, blocking roads and leaving dozens of people stranded inside their vehicles.
On January 22, the chief minister again described the evacuation process as forced, stating that people were trapped in snow during the relocation and that all available resources were being used to assist them.
Later, on Saturday, Rescue 1122 said that during ongoing rescue operations in Tirah Valley, more than 1,500 people and 350 vehicles had been safely evacuated from snowbound areas.