The Pakistan Army launched an intense military operation against TTP militants and hideouts in Tirah Valley in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province from December 8,2023. The operation was led by the Pakistan Army Aviation Corps and Artillery Corps.
Eyewitness reports published by several newspapers and social media outlets talk of a heavy bombardment campaign carried out by jets and artillery guns. The use of Turkish TB-2 attack drones has also been reported.
The local population has been warned of the operation and advised to stay indoors .Locals had already vacated their houses in anticipation of the operation.
The forces have so far targeted possible hideouts in Sanda Pal, Shalmanda Hills, Dray Naghari and Landawar areas. Earlier, a limited-scale artillery shelling on the hideouts started around four days ago, with both ground and air forces taking part in the action.
Gunships and howitzers were deployed to target these locations. The number of casualties and other operation details are not known.
The reports about the intensified military campaign came a day after Army Chief Gen Asim Munir visited Peshawar.The COAS was given a detailed briefing on, among other things, “the overall security situation and ongoing counter-terrorism operations”.
Tirah Valley, near the border with Afghanistan, has seen an upsurge in terrorist attacks targeting both civilians and military personnel. Recently, it has been the site of several gunfights between security forces and alleged terrorists. In one such operation last month, four security personnel, including a Colonel, were martyred. Several Intelligence-Based Operations in the area have been going on. The November gun battle occurred in the Baghray and Dray Naghari area of the Tirah valley, where the security forces had raided a hideout of the banned outfit, Lashkar-i-Islam. During the raid, a heavy exchange of fire took place. As a result, four security personnel, members of SSG, were martyred.
In April 2015, the army had launched a similar offensive to recapture strategic heights and locations from TTP in the Tirah Valley. It was a continuation of the operation in 2013.
Tirah’s rugged terrain makes it a natural refuge for those seeking to remain undetected. Spanning an area of 1,500-1,800 square kilometers, its network of peaks and valleys, reaching up to 2,500 meters in altitude, provide ample opportunities for concealment. Dense woodlands cloak the steep-sided valleys, further hindering access. Notably, the absence of roads in the area necessitates reliance on traditional modes of transportation like mules and horses, further contributing to its isolation.
This harsh environment also fosters the cultivation of cannabis and opium, lucrative crops that have historically financed militant activities. To the north, the Spin Ghar mountain range, culminating at nearly 4,800 meters, forms a natural barrier separating Tirah from Afghanistan’s Tora Bora region, where Osama bin Laden is believed to have sought refuge after the 2001 invasion.
The combination of these factors – isolation, inaccessibility, and a terrain conducive to concealment – has established Tirah as a haven for rebels throughout history, dating back to the Mughal era.
Tirah’s eastern end leads directly to the plain on which Peshawar sits and the army believes securing it will help stop attacks on the city and its suburban hinterland.
December 9,2023
Source: Dawn, various social media outlets,