The deteriorating situation in Tirah Valley has highlighted deep-rooted governance failures, with security officials pointing to the absence of basic services, weak administration and limited law enforcement as key challenges in the remote region of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
Officials of the Frontier Corps said the vacuum created by poor governance has been exploited by extremist and criminal groups, including Fitna-al-Khawarij, which they accused of promoting instability and financing activities through drug trafficking and extortion.
Inspector General Frontier Corps Khyber Pakhtunkhwa North said the province shares a 1,224-kilometre-long border with Afghanistan, of which around 717 kilometres fall under the responsibility of the FC. He said the terrain includes snow-covered and rugged mountains, high peaks and narrow passes, making border management a complex task.
The IG said cameras have been installed at various points to counter infiltration, adding that the border can only be fully sealed if it is respected from both sides. He noted that fencing between Pakistan and Afghanistan has been completed for the first time, turning it into what can now be termed an international border and creating a barrier against unchecked movement and infiltration.
Referring to security challenges, the IG said that last year in Bagh Maidan, 64 FC personnel were martyred and 198 were injured, adding that no other institution had suffered such a high number of casualties in the area. He said there are locations such as Duatoi where a narrow passage exists but effective checking cannot be carried out due to lack of legal authority.
He further pointed out that only three police personnel are currently deployed to monitor the entire local population, underscoring the severe shortage of law enforcement resources.
Wing Commander Colonel Waqas said the absence of civil administration was stark, noting that for a stretch of up to 60 kilometres in Tirah Valley there is no district administration, police presence or hospital. He said there are no government schools in the area and no appointed teachers, which has deprived children of education.
“When children do not go to school and are denied education, awareness does not develop and they are pushed towards illegal activities,” he said.
Colonel Waqas said the FC is running 16 schools in the valley and has recruited teachers on its own to provide basic education. He added that there is no hospital in the area and residents often approach the FC even for basic medical needs such as injections. The FC, he said, also organises free medical camps for the local population.
He described drug trafficking as a major problem in Tirah Valley, alleging the involvement of Fitna-al-Khawarij. He said funds generated through narcotics and extortion are used against security forces and civilians.
Officials warned that continued mismanagement and the failure of local governance structures are allowing militant and criminal elements to entrench themselves further in the region, aggravating both security and humanitarian challenges for the local population.
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