In a powerful show of unity, the people of Bajaur have risen against the Khawarij , demanding decisive military action to rid the region of their growing tyranny. At a grand tribal jirga convened yesterday, elders and community members expressed their frustration at the persistent brutality of the Khawarij and called on the Pakistan Army to intensify operations against their hideouts.
The jirga participants declared that the Khawarij’s continued infiltration and violence had left them with no choice but to resist. “We are forced to take up arms in defense of our homes and families. Under no circumstances will we allow these terrorists to enter our areas,” the elders stated.
The jirga also appealed to other tribes in the region to unite in blocking the Khawarij’s entry, warning that divided communities would only strengthen the terrorists. “This is a collective fight. Only by standing together can we protect our lands from the menace of Khawarij,” they added.
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Significantly, the jirga acknowledged that this was not the first such gathering. Over the years, multiple jirgas had been convened in hopes of resolving the issue peacefully, but those efforts repeatedly failed as the Khawarij refused reconciliation and continued their acts of terror. “We tried peace before, but every time it ended in betrayal. Now, only decisive action will bring lasting peace,” one tribal elder said.
The people appealed directly to the Pakistan Army to launch a swift and comprehensive operation to dismantle the Khawarij network, urging that their sanctuaries and facilitators be eliminated. “The region can no longer tolerate the presence of terrorists. The Army must finish this chapter once and for all so that durable peace can return to Bajaur,” the jirga resolved.
The demand reflects a growing consensus in tribal society: that peace cannot be achieved through negotiations with the Khawarij, but only through unity between the people and the security forces in confronting and defeating them.
