Special assistant to the Chief Minister (CM) of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Shafi Jan, appeared on a private TV program to discuss the ongoing situation in Tirah Valley, where thousands of families have been displaced amid worsening security and harsh winter conditions.
During the program, Shafi Jan repeatedly highlighted that the provincial government had set aside four billion rupees to facilitate displaced civilians, but he appeared uncertain when asked about the broader military operation itself.
When the host asked,“If you had set aside four billion rupees, then you knew this was going to happen,” Shafi Jan said, “We knew that despite our objections, the military establishment and the government were going to impose a military operation on us.”
He added, “When the operation would be imposed, there would be evacuations. When evacuations took place, in this harsh weather, we had to facilitate them. These are our people; it is our responsibility. Our government had set aside four billion rupees for this. We were fully prepared to facilitate the displaced people.”
He further explained that the allocation was formalized by the cabinet on November 14, and that additional funds had been provided in Kurram and Bajaur: “We had allocated four billion rupees for facilitation. We passed it through the Cabinet on November 14. We are also giving an additional amount to these people: three billion in Kurram, three billion in Bajaur. The provincial government provided it. Operations are conducted, people are displaced – just for a minute, people are displaced.”
Later in the program, when the anchor asked whether the provincial government had anticipated the operation or merely suspected it, Shafi Jan acknowledged that they were aware of the situation.
He said that a jirga was taking place and that the military operation was being imposed despite their objections. He emphasized that the provincial government knew the intentions and actions of those conducting the operation and that, despite their objections, they were fully prepared to manage the evacuations and assist the displaced people.
Shafi Jan’s statements underline a mix of awareness and uncertainty, showing that while the provincial government was prepared to assist civilians, it did not directly control the operational decisions in Tirah Valley.
The evacuation in Tirah Valley began on January 10. According to the Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA), more than 11,400 families have been registered, with over 10,000 relocated to safer areas including Bara and Peshawar.
The displacement has led to conflicting narratives between the provincial and federal governments: the federal authorities maintain that only intelligence-based operations (IBOs) under the National Action Plan (NAP) are underway, while the provincial government has emphasized its role in facilitating displaced civilians and providing necessary support in harsh weather conditions.