Thousands of residents from Tirah Maidan have been forcibly uprooted during a security operation amid freezing winter conditions, sparking a severe humanitarian crisis and criticism of the state’s treatment of civilians in conflict zones. According to a post by PTM Khyber on X, entire families—including children, women, and the elderly—were forced to leave their homes on foot, enduring days of trekking through mountainous terrain in extreme cold. Heavy snowfall blocked roads, leaving many stranded, with some taking shelter in vehicles without sufficient food, warmth, or medical care.

After the dangerous journey, displaced families faced further hardship during the “registration” process, reportedly waiting for three to four days on open roads without tents, sanitation, or basic facilities. The delays exposed vulnerable groups to illness, exhaustion, and severe distress. “There was no planning and no dignity,” PTM Khyber said, describing the residents as left hopeless in the harsh cold.

The incident reflects a wider trend of forced displacement in Pakistan’s tribal areas, where military operations frequently cause civilian suffering with little accountability. The Pashtun Tahafuz Movement Khyber condemned the Tirah operation as inhumane and unnecessary, demanding immediate relief, reopening of snow-blocked routes, and an end to policies that uproot communities without safeguards. They emphasized the need to protect human rights and prevent the oppression of civilians under the pretext of security.

Using the hashtag #PashtunsRejectTirahOperations, PTM Khyber stressed that loyalty cannot be expected from citizens who are denied protection and dignity. Residents insist they are not seeking charity but asserting their constitutional rights, safety, and the ability to live without fear of forced displacement.