Independent Report
TIRAH VALLEY, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa:
Inspector General Frontier Corps Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (North) has cautioned that persistent governance failures, weak civil administration and mounting security challenges in Tirah Valley are creating space for militant and criminal networks to operate.
The IG said Fitna-al-Khawarij elements are actively promoting instability by financing their operations through narcotics smuggling and extortion, with proceeds used against security forces and civilians. He noted that Khyber Pakhtunkhwa shares a 1,224-kilometre border with Afghanistan, of which approximately 717 kilometres — including snow-covered peaks, rugged terrain and narrow mountain passes — are secured by the Frontier Corps.
He added that surveillance systems and border fencing have significantly restricted illegal movement and infiltration, stressing that complete border sealing is only possible with mutual respect for the international boundary. The IG disclosed that last year alone, 64 Frontier Corps personnel were martyred and 198 injured in the Bagh Maidan sector, the highest casualties suffered by any institution in the area.
Wing Commander Colonel Waqas highlighted the near absence of the state, stating that for up to 60 kilometres there is no district administration, police presence, hospital or government school, forcing the Frontier Corps to bridge critical gaps through education and medical initiatives.
