THE role played by security forces in counter-terrorism (CT) operations is commendable.

The menace of cross-border terrorism has been successfully confined to border areas adjacent to Afghanistan. Ironically, some ethnic pressure groups and a few unwise quarters of the provincial government are fanning rhetoric against CT operations by wrongly linking it to the current situation in Tirah valley.

Winter migration in Tirah is a long-standing tradition, not a new crisis. People move to lower valleys due to harsh weather conditions, not because of any military operation. Historical records and official gazetteers confirm this seasonal migration pattern. Claims of forced displacement by ethnic groups, such as the PTM, are false and misleading. In reality, the people of Tirah have winter homes in nearby areas where they take shelter during harsh winters. The real issue is........

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