In a chilling reminder of their lingering presence, armed members of the proscribed Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), designated as Khawarij by the state, brazenly targeted children in Khyber district’s sensitive Tirah Valley snatching mobile phones in broad daylight near Lanja Market and reigniting fear across the region.
According to credible local sources, the incident unfolded in the Bar Qambarkhel area of Pakka Tarah, where armed Khawarij intercepted young boys returning from the market and forcibly seized their mobile phones at gunpoint. Witnesses described the act as open gangsterism, carried out with complete disregard for law and human dignity.
What has alarmed the community further is that the confiscated mobile devices reportedly contained sensitive documents, raising serious concerns about the potential misuse of private and official information by the Khawarij network. The children, visibly traumatised, have become symbols of a community once again held hostage by fear.
“This was not just a petty crime it was a calculated act meant to sow terror and signal the return of the Khawarij,” said a local elder, who demanded immediate and iron-fisted state intervention. “Their cowardice lies in preying on the weakest, but their intent is nothing short of rebellion against the writ of the state.”
Public reaction has been swift and severe. Civil society actors, tribal elders, and ordinary citizens alike have condemned the attack, calling it an open challenge to the authority of Pakistan’s security institutions. “The re-emergence of Khawarij in settled and tribal areas alike is a red flag. Without uncompromising action, these enemies of peace will once again destabilize our hard-won security,” warned a resident of Bara.
In strong terms, the public has urged security forces to launch a targeted and resolute operation to neutralise the Khawarij presence in Tirah. Simultaneously, local elders have been called upon to stand firm and facilitate the recovery of the stolen mobile phones, while aiding state forces in dismantling the remaining network of these extremist elements.
“The time for silence is over,” stated a prominent tribal figure. “We must unite to defend our children, our homes, and our peace from the poisonous ideology of the Khawarij. If they are not confronted today, they will overrun our tomorrow.”
The Tirah Valley, long a strategic and symbolic stronghold in the fight against extremism, now stands at a crossroads. This brazen incident, though small in scale, carries a weighty message: the Khawarij are testing the state’s resolve. And the people of Khyber are demanding loud and clear that the response be swift, firm, and uncompromising.
