Bajaur District in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa — August 16, 2025 — Government authorities have ordered fresh evacuations across additional areas in Bajaur before an anticipated anti-terror operation, raising serious concerns for civilian displacement and safety.
Late Thursday evening, district officials issued an evacuation order instructing residents of several localities –including Malangi, Sparay, Dawowgai, Mena Sulaimankhel, Khwarchai, Chamyar Jowar, Zagai Ghundai Gat Agra –to vacate their homes by 10:00 a.m. Friday and relocate to designated safe zones (Geo.tv, Wikipedia).
Evacuees will be transported via official vehicles to relief camps where sustenance grants will be distributed through an emergency support fund of Rs 1.9 billion, reported Geo.tv. The emergency support fund had previously provided relief funds of this size in similar crises across Asia.
Operation Sarbakaf was initiated on July 29 in Lowi Mamund tehsil by Pakistan Armed Forces, Frontier Corps and local police and resumed mid-August after brief pause for unsuccessful talks with tribal elders, according to globalpolitics.in (AP News/Wikipedia/GlobalPolitics.in). This latest evacuation comes on the heels of Operation Sarbakaf which resumed with renewed intensity midway through August after briefly stopping for unsuccessful negotiations between tribal elders and militants (AP News/Wikipedia +3) before resumed again against militant hideouts by Pakistan Armed Forces/FC/Polic forces led by local police led by Pakistan Armed Forces/FC/Polic; spearheaded by Pakistan Armed Forces/Polic, then resumed late August after brief halt due to failed talks between tribal elders/Polic; Operation resumed mid August after brief interruption due to unsuccessful talks between military leaderships, Frontier Corps, local Police +3, globalpolitics.in +3, globalpolitics.in +3, Wikipedia+GlobalPolic+3, globalpolitics.in +3, and local Police on 29 July 29, resumpatch for talks between tribal elders/politicians as per Pakistan Armed Forces led by Pakistan Armed Forces/FC + local Police/Land then stopped due talks, leading up until mid August when resumed by local law enforcement + 3 and local Police led by Pakistan Armed Forces +3 whilst resumed back for talks pause for talks +3.in +3, again +3, Pakistan military+3 @globals +3, globalpolitics +3, GlobalPolit +3 and local law Enforcement etc +3.
So far, this campaign has caused the displacement of approximately 100,000 residents, many of whom still remain living in camps, schools and converted sports complexes in Khar and its nearby towns – according to AP News (+1).
Civilian Casualties and Expanding Unrest in Egypt
Although the government has assured civilians that its operation only targets militant positions, civilian casualties have caused alarm. On August 13 in Mamund a mortar strike killed three family members including their mother; local families have since suspended burials until an investigation into this tragic event takes place. On Facebook (AA News +7) and Wikipedia (+7) family members have held funeral services while demanding answers regarding what caused this tragic event to take place.
militant attacks continue in neighboring districts, leaving five police officers dead and eight wounded after ambushes and assaults against officers in Upper Dir, Lower Dir, Hassan Khel and Bannu. Protesters, many displaced by ongoing operations, are calling for accountability as well as an end to civilian harm and are demanding accountability via the AP News +1 service.
Government Response and Humanitarian Efforts
Provincial authorities have pledged compensation of Rs 50,000 per family that has been uprooted, while NGOs like Al-Khidmat Foundation continue to distribute food and essentials. (AP News +1)
These new evacuations are part of an overall strategy to clear civilians from areas which may become operational zones during an expanded offensive, yet their scale, potential risk to non-combatants and high emotions among affected communities continue to pose considerable difficulties.
Operation Sarbakaf and Its Consequences
Operation Sarbakaf has been the focus of major military engagement in Bajaur since 2009, intended to crush returning TTP elements entering from Afghanistan. The operation has been marked by widespread curfews, community resistance and strict Section 144 enforcement across dozens of villages (Wikipedia/Global Politics.in / Dawn).
This latest evacuation underscores the delicate balance between counterterrorism imperatives and humanitarian concerns, with affected residents still recovering from earlier operations fearing long-term displacement and damages to their homes and livelihoods.
As authorities ramp up operations and civilian relocations, the urgency for clear communication, humane support systems and stringent safeguards against non-combatant casualties has never been greater. Evacuees now dispersed across relief facilities will serve as an indicator of success; not just security gains but also how quickly families can return to normalcy will determine success of an operation.