Protest in Pakistan’s Khyber ends after IG FC terms Tirah deaths ‘very unfortunate’

A three-day sit-in in Pakistan’s Khyber district over the alleged killing of civilians in airstrikes in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s Tirah Valley ended Wednesday after protesters met military officials, who they claimed offered an apology.

Speaking at the sit-in, protest leader Hashim Khan Afridi announced an end to the demonstration, saying that KP Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur had facilitated a meeting between protest organizers, tribal elders, and the Inspector General (IG) of the Frontier Corps (FC).

“During the meeting, the IG formally apologized for the incident and recognized the deceased as martyrs, which was our core demand,” he said.

Attaullah Khan, another organizer and Secretary General of the Barra Political Alliance, also claimed that the IG FC apologized and pledged to visit the victims’ families.

“After successful negotiations, we are ending the protest,” he said.

Khan added that the group is scheduled to meet the Peshawar Corps Commander in two days to present their full list of demands.

“If the Corps Commander fails to address our concerns, we will resume the sit-in with greater intensity after three days,” he warned.

Haji Shireen Afridi, another leader of the Barra Political Alliance, said the IG FC assured protesters that no military operations would be carried out in the area without consultation with tribal elders on a strategy against militants.

“The IG told us that we all want peace,” he added.

Speaking to Nukta, PTI lawmaker Iqbal Afridi, who attended the meeting with the IG FC, said the latter acknowledged that civilian casualties in counter-terror operations were “very unfortunate.” “We asked him to clarify whether those killed were terrorists or innocent civilians, and the IG FC admitted that they were, innocent," he confirmed.

Gandapur visits protestors

Earlier in the day, KP CM Ali Amin Gandapur visited the demonstrators in Barra Bazaar, offering condolences and assuring them that he would arrange their meetings with the IG FC and the Peshawar Corps Commander to present their demands.

Organizers said the protesters demanded an end to military operations, steps to curb targeted killings, limits on the military’s authority, and the recovery of missing persons. They also called for criminal cases against those responsible and a written assurance that such incidents would not be repeated.

“We don’t want anything but the right to live,” said protest leader Hashim Afridi.

The agitation in Khyber district started on September 22nd when at least 21 people were killed in a Tirah Valley explosion.

Locals blamed military airstrikes, while the military rejected the claim, saying the explosion occurred at a militant IED facility, killing militants and civilians allegedly used as human shields.