The morning of July 29, 2025, in Bajaur’s Mamund Tehsil began like any other, with the rugged hills along the Afghan border. But the tranquility was shattered by the low hum of helicopters and the distant rumble of artillery. Pakistan’s army had quietly launched Operation Sarbakaf, a military offensive aimed at dismantling militant hideouts while attempting to minimise civilian casualties. For decades, Bajaur had been a corridor for insurgents, and intelligence reports indicated a sharp uptick in cross-border activity by the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP). While the military framed the operation as surgical and necessary, it quickly sparked political tension and public unrest.
Within hours, sixteen villages of Lowi Mamund Tehsil, including Badi Siah, Tarkho, Irab, Gat, Agra, and Khurchai, were placed under a strict curfew, from early morning to late afternoon, for three days under Section 144 of the Code of Criminal Procedure. Roads emptied, markets closed, and the usual morning bustle vanished. Families stayed indoors, children clutched their parents’ hands, and elders whispered prayers in tense silence. The local administration invoked emergency powers to ensure the operation could proceed efficiently.
The timing of the offensive was tied to escalating security concerns. Earlier in July, a bombing had killed local officials, including the Assistant Commissioner Faisal Ismail, and injured many more. The assassination of Maulana Khan Zeb, a local peace advocate, further underscored the fragility of calm in the district. Security forces stressed that the operation was intended to target militants, not civilians, a distinction that often felt theoretical to residents living under curfew and the threat of artillery fire.
Almost immediately, the military action triggered political friction. The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government publicly opposed the operation, emphasising that no military action should proceed without provincial consent. Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur insisted that state institutions and the public must remain unified, warning that militants often hide among civilians to foment distrust. He initiated a series of tribal council meetings starting on August 2 to address local grievances and attempted to prevent unilateral curfews by transferring powers under Section 144 from district commissioners to the Home Department. Gandapur also announced financial relief: Rs 10 million compensation for families of those killed and Rs 2.5 million for the wounded, whether civilian or security personnel.
At the federal level, public communications by the army remained minimal. The Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) did not release detailed updates, and reports suggested the military declined requests for comment on the operation’s progress, maintaining operational silence in the face of growing public scrutiny.
The local population, already anxious, responded with protests almost immediately. On July 30 and 31, hundreds of residents, including youth, tribal elders, and political activists, gathered at Umary Chowk and other central points, displaying black armbands and copies of the Holy Quran. They demanded an end to the offensive, criticising it as unannounced and highlighting the severe hardship caused by curfews that cut off markets and supply routes.
Regional politicians amplified these concerns. Lawmakers and tribal leaders, including PTI MPA Dr Hamid Ur Rehman, former PTI MNA Gul Zafar Khan, MNA Anwar Zeb Khan, ANP’s Aimal Wali Khan, and JI’s Mushtaq Ahmed Khan, publicly condemned the raid and curfew. Citing Pakistan’s Constitution (Article 245), they stressed that provincial approval is required for military operations in the area. Some even threatened large-scale demonstrations, with Dr Rehman warning that if the offensive continued, he would ‘take the whole people of Mamund to roads’ to demonstrate.
Religious political parties also voiced criticism. The Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam (F) called the operation a ‘misguided force’ response, arguing that military action alone historically failed to resolve insurgencies. Meanwhile, the Bajaur Peace Action Committee, a coalition of local activists and parties, held an emergency meeting on July 30 and demanded an immediate end to Sarbakaf. Their participants reiterating that authorities had previously assured villagers that civilians would not be targeted and alleging that these assurances had been violated.
Amid the political and social tensions, the humanitarian impact grew increasingly visible. By August 12, nearly 100,000 people had been displaced due to the offensive. Families fled to makeshift shelters, schools, and the Bajaur Sports Complex, where relief agencies and NGOs, such as the Al-Khidmat Foundation, distributed food, water, and essential supplies. The provincial government authorised Rs 50,000 per displaced family, but for many, this was little more than a reprieve. Memories of previous displacements, including the massive operations in 2009, returned, and for many families, this marked a second or third forced migration in just a few decades.
The military operation itself was precise and intelligence-driven, aiming to neutralise militant hideouts with minimal collateral damage. Official reports confirmed a few militant casualties, though civilian deaths and injuries sparked outrage. Residents recalled children killed and homes damaged, and protests highlighted the emotional and psychological toll of repeated operations. Families remained in a limbo, uncertain when, or if, they would return to their villages.
While the immediate goal of the operation was to disrupt TTP networks, analysts cautioned that without parallel social, economic, and political initiatives, the offensive could perpetuate the cycle of insurgency. Education, employment opportunities, and community engagement were critical to long-term stability, they argued, alongside carefully executed military strategies.
In addition to conflict, Bajaur faced the seasonal challenges of the monsoon. Heavy rains and flash floods during the operation added to the hardships of displaced families, destroyed infrastructure, and complicated relief distribution. Residents huddled under thin tents and in overcrowded shelters, balancing fear of natural disaster with fear of ongoing military action.
Despite these hardships, stories of resilience emerged. Children played quietly in school corridors converted into temporary dormitories, mothers sang lullabies to soothe their frightened children, and elders tried to maintain calm amid the chaos. These human stories underscored the stakes of any military operation: beyond strategy and tactics, it is the people who bear the weight of both conflict and displacement.
The writer is our Editorial Assistant and a journalist.
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