KHYBER, Aug 6: In a rare public accord, leaders of the banned Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) have pledged to cease targeting civilians and refrain from extortion and other abuses in the troubled Tirah valley of the Khyber tribal district. However, the agreement does not include a commitment to withdraw from the area, sparking skepticism among locals.
The announcement was made at a jirga in Bar Bagh, where elders of the Bar Qambarkhel tribe gathered to hear the terms read aloud by a tribal elder. The five-point agreement, issued on official TTP letterhead and endorsed by its Rahbari Shura (supreme council), marks the outcome of negotiations that began late last month following a series of violent incidents.
Key points of the deal include a ban on using civilian homes as cover during clashes with security forces, a prohibition on demanding Zakat and Ushr from residents, and a vow not to abduct or harm locals. TTP leaders acknowledged that any such actions damage their “armed struggle” and promised disciplinary measures against violators.
Despite these assurances, the militants reiterated their intent to continue fighting against what they described as “anti-Islam forces and their local collaborators.” The agreement emphasized the need for public support in this so-called jihad, while stating that the group would avoid interfering in private matters of the local population.
Significantly, the document does not address the local demand for a full withdrawal of TTP fighters from Tirah. This omission has drawn criticism from residents and rights advocates, especially in the wake of a deadly July incident where a young girl was killed and two disabled brothers were seriously wounded—allegedly over non-payment of Ushr.
Outrage over the violence led to widespread protests. Hundreds of Bar Qambarkhel tribesmen marched to a militant compound, holding copies of the Quran and calling for peace and the departure of armed groups. The jirga later imposed fines to discourage both payments to militants and collaboration with them.
While some residents cautiously welcomed the agreement as a step toward easing tensions, others labeled it a superficial gesture. Social media users from Tirah and the adjacent Bara region expressed frustration over the state’s apparent inability to dismantle militant networks despite clear evidence of their presence and negotiations.
The first round of talks took place on July 28, with TTP commanders seeking time to consult with leadership in Afghanistan. The resulting agreement, finalized on August 5, comes amid mounting pressure from locals demanding security, justice, and a return to normal life in a region long plagued by conflict.
