KHYBER (MNN); Dozens of families from the Bara tehsil of Khyber district have been forced to abandon their homes amid escalating clashes between security forces and militant groups, with residents citing fears of drone strikes and artillery shelling in the conflict-hit area.
The displacement has primarily affected families from the Sturikhel region, situated near the border between Khyber and Orakzai districts. Local sources said residents had little choice but to leave their homes and seek refuge in safer locations as the security situation rapidly deteriorated.
According to residents, villages including Meero Darra, Sal Gazai, Sawi Kot and Parrwan have been particularly affected by continuous artillery fire and drone activity, which they said persisted day and night.
Several displaced residents, speaking on condition of anonymity, claimed that militant groups attempted to use local civilians as human shields during the ongoing confrontation.
“We no longer felt safe in our homes and decided to move our families away rather than risk being caught in the crossfire between militants and security forces,” a displaced Sturikhel tribesman said.
Residents also reported that armed militants had recently moved into Bara from the Tirah Valley, a region that has witnessed repeated security operations and militant activity over the past several years.
The latest displacement echoes a similar situation in late 2025 and early 2026, when thousands of residents from Tirah Valley temporarily left their homes amid fears of a large-scale military operation against militants entrenched in different parts of the area.
Local sources said the recent clashes erupted after security forces launched intelligence-based operations in the Sturikhel area targeting militant hideouts. The ensuing exchanges of fire and military action created a climate of fear among civilians, prompting many families to flee.
Most displaced families have reportedly taken shelter with relatives in Bara, while others have relocated to Peshawar, where they either own homes or are living in rented accommodation.
Meanwhile, a jirga of Sturikhel tribal elders met officials of the district administration in Bara to highlight the difficulties faced by the affected population.
The tribal elders urged authorities to formally register the affected residents as internally displaced persons (IDPs) and provide them with immediate humanitarian and financial assistance.
Members of the jirga said they also plan to meet security officials in the nearby village of Lakar Baba to discuss the worsening law and order situation and explore measures for ensuring the safe return of displaced families.
The latest displacement underscores the continuing security challenges in Khyber district, where residents remain caught between militant activity and counterterrorism operations, often bearing the brunt of the violence.
