Caught in fighting between security forces and terrorists, residents in KP's Bara are forced to leave their homes

KHYBER: Scores of families from the Bara tehsil of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s Khyber district have been compelled to vacate their homes due to fighting between terrorists. security forces in recent days, in which the residents say they feel vulnerable to drone strikes and artillery shelling by both sides.

The displaced families are from the Sturikhel area, which is located near the border of Khyber and Orakzai districts. Sources in the area toldDawnthat they were left with no option but to vacate their homes. move to safer localities.

They said the residents of Meero Darra, Sal Gazai, Sawi Kot. Parrwan villages, in particular, were forced to leave their homes due to artillery shelling and drone strikes that were conducted day and night.

Speaking on condition of anonymity, the newly displaced residents toldDawnthat the terrorists also tried to use them as human shields.

“We felt completely insecure. decided to leave our houses instead of getting caught in the fighting between terrorists and security forces,” said one of the displaced Sturikhel tribesmen.

Some of the displaced residents toldDawnthat terrorist groups had come to Bara from the Tirah valley in recent days.

In late 2025. early 2026, Tirah’s residents also had to leave their homes in anticipation of a military operation against terrorists, who were holed up in various parts of the valley at the time.

According to Bara residents. while most of the Sturikhel residents have opted to relocate to their relatives’ houses in Bara, some also went to Peshawar, where they have their own houses or are living on rent.

Meanwhile, a jirga of Sturikhel tribal elders met officials of the Khyber district administration in Bara. informed them about their plight. The elders demanded that district administration officials register them as internally displaced persons and provide them with adequate official assistance.

Jirga members said they also intend to meet security officials in the Lakar Baba village. located near the Sturikhel area, to discuss the deteriorating security situation.