Hafiz Gul Bahadur (HGB), an ally of Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), has claimed responsibility for an attack on an Orakzai Scouts post in Tirah Valley, resulting in the death of seven soldiers and injuries to twelve others.
This marks the first known attack by HGB in Khyber District, as the group had previously been associated primarily with Waziristan and Bannu. A video released by the militants shows weapons and ammunition confiscated from the military outpost in Tirah Valley.
Local communities have voiced strong criticisms against the security forces, for exacerbating the region’s plight. Decades of exploitation, dating back to 1947 when the area came under the control of the Punjabi Pakistan Army, have left the Pashtuns vulnerable. The local sentiment is that the Army uses Pashtuns for its own agenda, only to label them as terrorists and targets them later.
The situation for civilians has deteriorated as both the TTP and Pak Army are implicated in violence against them. While the Pak Army fails to take effective action against terrorists, it closely monitors and restricts civilians in the region.
The Pashtun rights organization, Pashtun Tahafuz Movement (PTM), argues that these attacks occur under the supervision of the Punjabi Pak Army and its generals. They contend that the terror and fear inflicted on the region come at the expense of the Pashtun population, who bear the brunt of the ongoing conflict.