Centre and KP clash over Tirah displacement as snowfall worsens crisis

A dispute erupted between the federal government and the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa administration over the displacement of residents from the Tirah Valley, where harsh weather and security developments have pushed families to leave their homes.

Federal Planning Minister Ahsan Iqbal rejected claims that Islamabad ordered an evacuation, saying no such directive was issued and arguing that the provincial government must explain the circumstances that led people to move. He also pointed to an official denial from the Ministry of Information that reports of a large-scale operation in Tirah were accurate, warning that linking the movement to the armed forces amounted to misinformation.

Information Minister Attaullah Tarar echoed the position, stating the government had taken notice of what it described as false propaganda around Tirah. Federal officials criticised the KP government’s handling of law and order, insisting the matter falls under the province’s jurisdiction.

On the ground, humanitarian conditions worsened as snow and freezing temperatures left families stranded on blocked routes. The Provincial Disaster Management Authority reported key roads shut due to snowfall, and multiple routes across KP were also affected. Rescue 1122 teams said personnel were deployed for ongoing operations, including vehicle recoveries and assistance to stranded travellers.

KP Chief Minister Sohail Afridi said residents were effectively compelled to leave, while insisting the provincial government did not carry out an evacuation. He warned that if the ongoing operation was not halted within days, the KP government would devise its own approach. A provincial spokesperson also pushed back at federal claims over relief funding, arguing the province had released resources and accusing the centre of attempting to shift responsibility.