Bajaur, Mohmand Elders Reject Military Operations in Jirga Talks

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On August 4, 2025, Chief Minister Ali Amin Khan Gandapur presided over the second regional jirga at his office in Peshawar, where tribal elders from Bajaur and Mohmand districts firmly opposed military operations, including the ongoing Operation Sarbakaf in Bajaur’s Lowi Mamund tehsil. The elders called for negotiations with the Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) to avoid civilian harm and mass displacement.

The jirga was attended by approximately 150 elders, along with six Members of the Provincial Assembly, three Members of the National Assembly, one senator, and senior provincial officials including the chief secretary and inspector general of police. Participants emphasized that civilian displacement caused by military operations is unacceptable and urged the federal government to coordinate with provincial authorities before launching any security campaigns in tribal areas.

Local leaders, including Sahibzada Haroon Rashid, helped secure a temporary ceasefire with TTP commanders on August 3. Under this agreement, militants agreed to vacate civilian-populated areas and relocate to more remote regions. Tribal representatives reiterated their commitment to resolving conflict through dialogue rather than force.

Chief Minister Gandapur supported the jirga’s stance and echoed calls made by PTI founder Imran Khan, who had previously urged the provincial government to block federal military interventions in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s tribal belt. Khan has emphasized that political negotiation remains a more effective and sustainable approach.

During the jirga, participants also recommended sending a delegation of tribal elders and provincial officials to Afghanistan to discuss ways of reducing cross-border militancy. The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government expressed its support for this initiative, framing it as part of a broader strategy for long-term regional peace and development.

Plans are underway to conduct additional jirgas in other tribal districts, including Mohmand, North and South Waziristan, and Kurram. These meetings will culminate in a grand jirga led by the Chief Minister to finalize a comprehensive peace plan that prioritizes stability through community engagement and political solutions over military action.