So, finally the Tahreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) took control of the Tirah Valley!
Situated in the Northwest of the Khyber Agency of Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA), the Tirah Valley is known across the entire region for its immaculate and untouched beauty. The valley is a home of the Afridi and Orakzai tribes of Pashtuns, and holds particular political significance because it borders Afghanistan on the West. The valley is often described as a ‘No Man’s Land’, and is ruled by the indigenous natives who have been living their lives in accordance with the tribal culture for decades.i
On March 12, the TTP demanded centralised control of the region from a local group named Ansaar ul Islam (AI). Heavily armed conflict started between the both groups when AI refused to hand over the region to TTP. According to news reports, hundreds of fighters from both groups were killed in the fighting, but eventually the TTP took control of the majority of the region.
This entire episode took place at a time when a dialogue process with Taliban was being enthusiastically considered at both domestic and international levels. Both the United States and Pakistan seemed to be on the same page, trying to initiate new efforts to negotiate with Taliban in order to bring peace and stability in the entire region. Cynics might suggest that they were using the now somewhat traditional approach of using the dialogue process as a breathing space to organise themselves, but the Taliban also seemed to show flexibility and receptiveness to the peace deal – at least in the beginning. These latest events, however – the seizing of a Tirah, a strategically important bridge between Waziristan on one side and Afghanistan on the other side – seem to give the lie to this early peaceable approach. It seems the cynics may have been correct - it can be inferred that the Taliban are only driven by their own vicious agenda, and are a difficult party to pin down and trust for peace negotiations.
This recent crisis has affected thousands of locals who were forced to flee their houses and possessions to save their lives. According to the reports of FATA Disaster Management Authority (FADM), 4,290 families have been displaced as a result of this recent conflict. The internally displaced people (IDPs) include 6,436 men, 10,872 women and 15,608 children.ii In the absence of any adequate arrangement by the government to facilitate this large number of IDPs, the situation has led to a significant humanitarian disaster, with widespread human rights violations against those displaced. The Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (the HRCP) has also shown their concerns over the rehabilitation and well-being of the IDPs, and also over the fact that the armed militia has taken over a highly strategic region in FATA to sustain their barbaric and violent activities.
Rehman Anwer
i http://reliefweb.int/sites/reliefweb.int/files/resources/Rapid%20Assessment%20Report_Tirah%20IDPs_Jamrud%20KA%20FATA_FINAL%20Draft%20(1).pdf
ii http://tribune.com.pk/story/525142/tirah-valley-displacement-unhcr-halts-registration-leaves-officials-in-quandary/
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