KHYBER: Security forces on Tuesday evacuated local families from Durbar locality of Tirah valley and later torched bunkers after completion of a limited military operation in the area a day before.

The residents of Durbar village of Zakhakhel told Dawn that forces first ordered them to vacate their houses prior to an intelligence-based operation (IBO) on Sunday on suspicion of the presence of terrorists in the area.

They said that scores of local families were shifted to nearby localities, with the majority of them opting to temporarily shift to houses of their relatives in other villages while allowing security forces to comb their houses for possible presence of terrorists.

The ‘displaced’ families were then allowed to go back to their houses on Monday while security forces went back after completing the operation with no collateral damage.

The temporary ‘internal displacement’ was agreed between the elders of various tribes of Tirah and security officials on April 9 during a detailed meeting over the prevailing situation in the valley and finding a solution to reservations of locals about their lengthy and long-distance displacement from their homes while the forces conducting an intelligence-based operation in any part of the valley.

Local elders agreed to temporary internal displacement after the experiment was first conducted in Zakhakhel and Malakdinkhel areas on a limited basis.

Locals said that security forces on Tuesday first vacated at least four to five bunkers established on hilltops in Durbar locality while taking their help in ‘bringing down’ their belongings and weaponry from the vacated bunkers and later putting the bunkers on fire. They said that forces went back from their village after burning the bunkers.

Sources said that forces also targeted militant positions in other localities of Zakhakhel with ‘drones’ while armed militant groups were still making their appearances in different parts of the region.

They said that security forces stationed in former Zakhakhel peace committee commander Prraq palatial residence used the fortified facility to target militant positions through drones.

Published in Dawn, April 16th, 2025