Second round of talks : Khyber jirga asks militants to leave area to avoid operation

LANDIKOTAL: The second round of peace talks between the Khyber grand jirga and various militant groups in the Tirah valley was held on Wednesday, sources said.

The meeting took place in Tirah’s Bagh area and was attended by tribal elders and political figures from Landikotal and Bara tehsils.

Those participating in the talks included Malik Tajuddin, Mufti Muhammad Ijaz, Malik Razzaq Zakhakhel, Malik Tahir Khan, Malik Zahir Ahmad Shah, Malik Khalid Khan, and Malik Parvez Shinwari.

According to jirga sources, the delegation met with two separate militant factions. One group comprised representatives of Hafiz Gul Bahadur, Lashkar-e-Islam, and Jamaat-ul-Ahrar, while the other represented the banned Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan.

During the talks, jirga members firmly urged both groups to vacate the area voluntarily to prevent a possible military operation by security forces.

They warned that any delay in withdrawal could result in an operation causing large-scale displacement and civilian casualties.

The sources said the militant groups indicated their willingness to consider leaving the area to avoid harm to civilians.

Both factions agreed to continue the dialogue and requested time to consult their senior leadership before reaching a final decision.

This was the second phase of peace talks between the jirga and the militant factions. Around 10 days earlier, the first round was held, during which the militants demanded the implementation of Sharia law in the tribal districts.

Local elders expressed cautious optimism that continued dialogue could pave the way for peace and stability in the Tirah valley, which has long suffered from militancy and conflict.

However, some sources confirmed that a few groups were still reluctant to leave the area, prompting the jirga to consider another meeting soon to persuade them in the best interest of civilians.