For the past few weeks, social media has been flooded with alarming claims that the Tirah Valley is being “depopulated” on the orders of the state and that a major military operation is underway. Videos, posts and emotional messages have tried to create the impression that thousands of families are being forcibly removed from their homes.
The facts on the ground, however, tell a very different story. What is being presented as a humanitarian crisis is, in reality, a mix of a centuries-old seasonal movement, poor administrative handling and a carefully built disinformation campaign.
Both the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government and the federal Ministry of Information have clearly stated that there is no order to evacuate Tirah and no military operation in the area. Any movement taking place is temporary, voluntary, and linked to winter conditions and security precautions.
Yet, a normal seasonal pattern has been turned into a political and propaganda narrative.
Tirah has never been a year-round settlement
One basic fact is often missing from the social media debate: Tirah is a high-altitude region, around 7,500 feet above sea level. In winter, it is covered in snow and becomes extremely difficult to live in.
For centuries, the people of this region have followed a simple survival pattern. They live in Tirah and other high areas during the warmer months and move down to lower valleys and plains when winter arrives.
This is not a new practice, and it is not something invented by any government or institution. Even colonial-era records describe this clearly.
An 1899 book, Khyber: A Sketch of the Pass, quoting official gazetteers of that time, explains that the tribes of this region go to Tirah in the summer and descend to lower areas in winter. It also notes that in winter they depend on the Peshawar region for their livelihood and live almost a nomadic life during those months.
In simple words, Tirah has always been a summer home, not a permanent winter settlement. No family can survive in peak winter there due to snow, cold and isolation. Coming down to Bara and nearby areas is not “displacement”. It is how life in this region has worked for generations.
No Military operation and no plan to empty the valley
Another major claim being pushed is that a large military operation is underway and that people are being removed to “clear” the area. This is simply not true. There has been no announcement of any operation by the army.
In fact, winter is not a season for major operations in such terrain. When civilians leave due to weather, militants also leave. Empty, frozen mountains are of no use to anyone.
The government has stated that security forces are carrying out only intelligence-based actions against Fitna-al-Khawarij elements and are avoiding large operations in populated areas to prevent civilian harm. There is also no truth to the claim that ISIS-KP is being settled in Tirah.
Official documents show that what was planned by the KP government was a possible, temporary, and voluntary movement from some localities, with the knowledge and consent of local jirgas and elders.
The notification issued in December 2025 even allocated funds for transport, food, and cash support and clearly described the movement as non-camp based and voluntary. If something is voluntary, it cannot logically be called forced displacement.
Where the real problem was poor administration
While the movement itself is normal and voluntary, it is also true that many people suffered during this process. But this suffering did not happen because anyone was forced out. It happened because of weak planning and poor execution by the civil administration.
The government announced a large package, but on the ground there were very few registration points and limited staff. This created long queues, traffic jams, and confusion.
This administrative failure then became the perfect material for those who wanted to build a false narrative. Videos of crowds and traffic were shown without context. Old images and selective clips were used to suggest a “crisis”. In reality, the problem was not policy. It was management.
How disinformation turned winter into a political weapon
The most dangerous part of this episode is how quickly a normal, well-known seasonal pattern was turned into a story of “depopulation” and “state oppression”. Certain political and hostile networks on social media pushed this line again and again, ignoring both history and official facts.
This is not just about Tirah. This is about information warfare. Such narratives damage trust between the state and citizens. They create fear, anger, and confusion. They also help militant groups by spreading panic and weakening public support for stability efforts.
The people of Tirah themselves want peace and normal life. They have lived with this seasonal cycle for generations. Turning their winter movement into a propaganda story does not help them. It only serves political and hostile agendas.
Read more: Federal Government Exposes Disinformation Campaign Over Tirah Evacuation
