Terrorists operating in the Loye Mamund region of Bajaur have refused to comply with a demand from local tribal elders to vacate the area, despite a formal appeal made by a 40-member delegation. According to sources within the jirga, the terrorists turned down the elders’ request, instead asking for a deadline extension until 12 noon tomorrow and assuring that no hostile action will be taken during that period.
The jirga was dispatched as part of a broader effort by tribal leadership to avoid further conflict and prevent bloodshed in the region, where tensions have been escalating in recent weeks due to the increasing presence of armed groups. Elders, deeply concerned by the deteriorating law and order situation, had hoped to negotiate a peaceful withdrawal of militants from the area to avert a full-scale confrontation.
The refusal comes amid an ongoing military operation, Operation Sarbakaf, targeting terrorist hideouts in 16 villages of Loye Mamund. The offensive has so far resulted in the reported elimination of over 22 militants and the arrest of 10 others, although official confirmation of the arrest numbers is still awaited.
The jirga initiative was the outcome of a grand tribal assembly held earlier in Mamund, where elders unanimously resolved to send a delegation to negotiate with the militants. The jirga members conveyed a clear message: if the militants refuse to leave peacefully, the tribes will take up arms and resist them. This collective stance by the locals signals a turning point in public sentiment, which has increasingly turned against militant presence and activities in Bajaur.
With the militants’ rejection of the jirga’s appeal, the situation remains highly volatile, and the deadline granted by the armed groups until tomorrow noon may determine whether the next chapter unfolds through dialogue, or confrontation.
