PESHAWAR — Security forces have given tribal elders in Bajaur a stark choice: remove the militants sheltering in the area or temporarily leave so the army can eliminate them.
According to security officials, the outlawed Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) — referred to by the state as khawarij — has entrenched itself among the local population, using talks as cover to prepare for fresh attacks. The government has ruled out any negotiations until the militants surrender unconditionally.
Three-Point Ultimatum
The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government, led by Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur, has presented the following options to tribal jirgas:
- Expel the militants, most of whom are Afghan nationals, from Bajaur.
- If that’s not possible, evacuate the area for one or two days to allow security forces to carry out targeted operations.
- Regardless of cooperation, military action will proceed, though every effort will be made to protect civilians.
Officials stress that the tribal jirga process is intended to safeguard residents before any combat begins. However, they emphasise that the state alone has the authority to use force, and no compromise will be made with those they call enemies of Islam and Pakistan.
Rising Violence Since 2021
The warning comes amid a surge in militant attacks in Pakistan since the Taliban takeover of Afghanistan in 2021. Security sources blame Afghan Taliban factions for providing logistical and financial support to TTP fighters.
Last year saw around 600 terror incidents nationwide. In June 2025 alone, Pakistan recorded 78 attacks that killed at least 100 people, including 53 security personnel and 39 civilians, according to the Pakistan Institute for Conflict and Security Studies.
Operations have also taken place outside Bajaur. On Friday, forces in Balochistan’s Zhob district killed 33 militants allegedly attempting to cross from Afghanistan. The military said the group was armed with weapons, explosives, and ammunition, and had links to India-backed networks.
Security forces maintain that the situation in Bajaur will be resolved one way or another — with or without the cooperation of local tribes.