Khyber District’s Tirah Valley has once again emerged as a significant hub for militant activity, raising alarm over the escalating threat to Peshawar and other major urban centres in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. Security officials warn that the resurgence of Khawarij groups in Tirah a historic sanctuary for militant networks may be tied to recent terror incidents, including the attack on the Federal Constabulary Headquarters in Peshawar on 24 November 2025.
Investigations into the incident indicate that the Afghan nationals involved in the attack maintained active links with militant elements operating out of Tirah. Intelligence assessments suggest that extremist networks are no longer confined to the tribal belt; instead, they are extending their operational reach toward Peshawar, signalling a dangerous shift in the region’s security dynamics.
Security officials note that the attack on the Federal Constabulary Headquarters and its suspected connections to both Tirah and Afghanistan serve as a stark reminder that militant actors are re-organising with renewed capacity. If left unchecked, these networks could execute further attacks in Peshawar and other urban centres.
Tirah’s militant history adds further urgency to the situation. The valley served as a central planning base for the 2014 Army Public School (APS) massacre, one of Pakistan’s deadliest terror attacks. Analysts now fear that the current pattern of violence is reminiscent of the pre-APS environment an indication that militant groups are again entrenching themselves in the same terrain.
In light of the deteriorating security conditions, experts emphasise that a targeted security operation in Tirah has become “unavoidable.” The first essential step, they assert, is the temporary evacuation of the local civilian population, enabling security forces to conduct precise operations against entrenched militant positions without risking civilian lives.
Security sources also reveal that each time law-enforcement agencies initiate operations in Tirah, non-local militant facilitators orchestrate organised protests in Bara to obstruct counterterrorism efforts. These protests, they warn, are directly linked to the terror crime nexus that benefits from instability in Tirah.
Given the rising threat level, analysts argue that the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government must take immediate and decisive action. Delay in facilitating targeted operations, particularly the organised evacuation plan, will leave Peshawar increasingly vulnerable to further attacks.
The evolving situation, experts say, demands urgent attention from the provincial leadership. The Chief Minister of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and the provincial administration are being urged to treat developments in Tirah with utmost seriousness and extend full cooperation to security forces undertaking counterterrorism initiatives in the region.
Failure to respond promptly, they warn, will expose Peshawar and surrounding areas to escalating militant threats in the weeks and months ahead.
