If you pay attention to the news, then recently one name has been heard repeatedly: Bajaur District. This area is a part of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KPK) and is connected to the border of Afghanistan. The situation here has changed a lot in the last few months.
Once, people used to talk only about everyday life here, but now the Peace Jirga and Operation Sarbakaf are part of the discussion. Let us understand the whole matter in simple language in this article.
Importance of Bajaur
First of all, know why Bajaur is in so much discussion.
This district is directly connected to Afghanistan. Two tehsils here – Loi Mamod and Wada Mamod – fall close to the border. Because of this, whenever the situation worsens in Afghanistan, its effect is seen here too.
For the past few years, Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) and other armed groups have been trying to use this area for their own benefit. This is the reason why the Pakistan Army and government have started adopting a tough stand here.
| Aspect | Information |
|---|---|
| Location | Bajaur District, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KPK), Pakistan |
| Main Issue | Presence of TTP and foreign militants, local security situation |
| Operation Name | Operation Serbakaf |
| Purpose of Operation | Jirgas failed, now the Army has launched targeted operations |
| Nature of Operation | Surgical and targeted (not a full-scale military operation) |
| Peace Jirgas | Local elders, Ulema, and political leaders attempted dialogue |
| TTP Representative | Malang Badshah (Ilyas), taking directions from Afghanistan |
| TTP Demands | Implementation of Sharia, recognition as equal to the state |
| To eliminate TTP and foreign fighters, restore the state’s writ | No armed group can dictate terms to the state |
| Past Background | In 2008–09, Operation Sherdil pushed TTP out of Bajaur |
| After 2021 | State’s Stance |
| Public Concerns | A long operation may lead to displacement and a humanitarian crisis |
| Current Situation | Jirgas failed, now the army has launched targeted operations |
Now let’s talk about Jirgas.
In Pashtun society, a Jirga is an attempt to resolve mutual issues through dialogue. Elders, Ulema, and people of the society sit together and find a solution.
When the situation in Bajaur started deteriorating, this was the first path adopted.
A Grand Jirga was called in which the big people of the society were present. The purpose of this Jirga was to establish peace by convincing the TTP and their supporters so that no major operation is needed.
But the problem was that the people of TTP did not look very serious in the talks. They kept citing instructions from their higher leaders, who are based in Afghanistan. The result was that no concrete solution could be found from the Jirga.
TTP’s thinking and demand
- TTP calls itself the largest armed group in Pakistan. They say that they want to implement Sharia in Pakistan.
- But the government of Pakistan has a clear stand that such equal deals cannot be made with any armed organization.
- That is, even if there are any talks, they will be only within the ambit of the law and constitution of the state.
- This conflict is actually the root cause of the current situation in Bajaur.
Operation Sarbakf
When the method of Jirga did not work, the Pakistan Army started Operation Sarbakf. This is not a very big and open operation like it used to be earlier; instead, it is being called a Targeted and Surgical Operation.
Its focus is only on those places where the presence of TTP or foreign fighters has been found with confirmed information. This area is mountainous and near the border, so the operation is not easy. But the Army is trying to cause as little trouble to the ordinary people as possible and only target armed groups.
The ordinary people of Bajaur are most troubled by these circumstances. They are trying to maintain peace so that everyday life can become normal again.
People fear that if the operation gets prolonged, the situation may become like 2009 again, when a large number of people were forced to leave their homes.
That is why the Jirga and the elders of the society are constantly trying to resolve the matter through talks. But now it seems that this path is getting closed.
To understand the situation in Bajaur, one will also have to look at the politics of Afghanistan. When the Taliban captured Kabul in 2021, the TTP also gained new strength. They got American weapons and started showing their presence in Pakistan’s areas again.
Bajaur has always been under pressure, mainly because of the movement from Kunar province. This is the reason why Pakistan is acting more strictly this time, so that the situation does not get out of hand.
At present, Operation Sarbakf is going on. The Army says that this operation will not last long and will be targeted. But this will be possible only when TTP and its supporters retreat.
If the situation is not brought under control soon, then the problems of the ordinary people can increase. It can also affect the relations between Pakistan and Afghanistan, because the leadership of TTP still operates from Afghan soil.
Overall, Bajaur district has become a critical test case for Pakistan at this time. On one hand, people want peace; on the other hand, armed groups want to strengthen their hold. The Peace Jirga was a good initiative, but it did not yield any results.
Now all hopes are pinned on Operation Sarbakaf, whether it will be able to restore peace in the area or not. It remains to be seen how the situation goes in the coming weeks.
