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PESHAWAR: The chief minister of Pakistan’s Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) province, Ali Amin Gandapur, announced on Wednesday that the provincial government will hold a series of tribal council meetings or jirgas from August 2 to address people’s concerns, amid protests over the deteriorating law and order situation amid a fresh military operation in the restive Bajaur district.

Located in KP along the Afghan border, the northwestern Bajaur district has long experienced militant violence and multiple military operations, especially during the peak of the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) insurgency.

Hundreds of protesters, including tribal elders and youth, rallied on Wednesday in Bajaur district to express concern over the deteriorating law and order situation in the area, as the military launched an operation against militants that has left at least three civilians dead and seven injured, according to local representatives. Residents say they are opposing the latest offensive out of fear of displacement, as previous operations in the tribal belt, led to evacuations and long-term instability.

The unrest erupted following a three-day curfew imposed across 16 villages in Bajaur’s Loi Mamund tehsil, where the Pakistan Army began a counterterrorism operation codenamed “Sarbakaf” on July 29. The curfew, announced in a notification by the district’s deputy commissioner, aimed to “ensure public safety” amid intelligence reports of militant activity.

“I am starting jirgas [tribal councils] and from August 2, god willing, our jirgas will begin,” Gandapur said in a video message released by his office.

He added that at first, the jirgas will be held at the division level where all of the province’s local elders, political parties, political representatives, and stakeholders will sit together for consultations.

“The purpose of the consultations is to address the reservations and after these jirgas, we will hold a grand jirga in which we will give our policy, our plan and future strategy after sitting with all institutions,” the chief minister added.

The Pakistani military’s offensive triggered intense clashes with suspected militants, as local residents say the crossfire spilled into civilian areas, forcing many families to flee.

“The situation remains tense, and some families have already relocated to safer areas within the district,” Dr. Hamid ur Rehman, a provincial lawmaker from Bajaur affiliated with the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party, told Arab News over the phone while confirming civilian casualties.

“The operation has been paused today, but there’s still fear in the air,” he added.

He said a provincial assembly session scheduled for August 1 would discuss the crisis.

Pakistan’s military did not respond to a request for comment from Arab News when this report was filed.

Nisar Muhammad, spokesperson for the provincial information department, said the government was “closely monitoring” the situation and had convened an apex committee meeting to review the security response.

“The curfew will be lifted in phases, depending on the ground situation,” he added. “Civilian safety is our priority.”

The escalation has drawn sharp criticism from political leaders.

Aimal Wali Khan, president of the Awami National Party, denounced the violence in a social media statement, saying, “The bloodshed in Bajaur must end.”

Malik Farman Ullah, a tribal elder, voiced frustration over the recurring violence in the region.

“Our people are exhausted from burying the dead,” he said. “We demand that militants and security forces keep their clashes away from civilian homes.”

The Bajaur operation comes amid renewed concerns about the TTP’s presence along the Afghan border and a broader uptick in militant violence across Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

The provincial administration, led by Gandapur, has called for greater provincial involvement in security decisions, emphasizing the need to balance counterterrorism with civilian protections.

As tensions rise, the federal and provincial governments face growing pressure to restore stability without repeating past cycles of violence in the tribal belt.

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said on Wednesday that Pakistan would join other countries in calling for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza at the upcoming United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) session, criticizing Israel for its military operations in the Middle East.

The 80th session of the UNGA will open on Tuesday, September 9, while the first day of the high-level General Debate will begin on Tuesday, September 23.

All eyes will be on the upcoming UNGA as French President Emmanuel Macron announced last week he would formally recognize Palestinian statehood during the summit, provoking strong opposition from Israel and the United States.

“And at the upcoming [United Nations General Assembly] session in September, we will strongly present Pakistan’s position and join voices with all those countries calling for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza, and subsequently, for securing the rights of the Palestinian state,” Sharif said in an address to members of the federal cabinet.

“Pakistan’s voice will not only be aligned with those countries, but it will also be an energetic one.”

His statement comes amid renewed calls for a ceasefire in Gaza, as Israel has killed over 57,000 Palestinians in the territory since October 7, 2023.

Several countries, including international rights organizations and charity institutes, have raised alarm at the outbreak of diseases and starvation in Gaza amid the worsening conditions there.

The Pakistani premier criticized Israel’s military operations in Gaza, saying that such barbarity has “never been witnessed before.”

Sharif said he had issued directives to the chairman of Pakistan’s National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) to immediately dispatch two consignments of relief items for Gaza.

He said the relief items will be sent via Egypt and Jordan.

“God willing, preparations will be completed soon and these food aid consignments will take off at the earliest possible time,” he added.

Pakistan’s Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar took part this week at a high-level UN summit co-chaired by France and ����ֱ�� on the two-state solution in the Middle East.

Dar pushed for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza and called on other countries to recognize Palestine as an independent nation at the conference. He also demanded Palestine be recognized as a member of the UN.