Eight months after tribal elders agreed to vacate Tirah Valley for a military operation, thousands of displaced families now view the government's promised support with deep skepticism. The recently announced October return timeline has done little to ease their concerns, as many still await registration, financial aid, and basic necessities in their temporary homes. Main Developments Only 21,000 of the officially recorded 34,000 displaced families have been verified, according to Tehrik Mutasereen Tirah chairman Rehmat Shah Afridi. He described the registration process as painfully slow and pointed to the creation of a 24-member Tirah Committee as evidence of official inefficiency. Read also: Bilawal accuses PML-N factions of undermining PM Shehbaz Families are still waiting for transport fares, the Rs50,000 monthly stipend, and the additional Rs250,000 grant promised upon their arrival in Bara in December 2025 and early 2026. Some displaced persons report being robbed by fraudsters posing as committee members, with no action taken by police or district authorities. Traders and shopkeepers who lost merchandise during the displacement remain without any assessment of their financial losses. Mihaj Lala, a member of Tehrik Mutasereen Tirah from Mashri Chowk, noted that most of the trading community has settled in Bara or moved to Peshawar, Mardan, and Nowshera, yet they cannot risk new investments without a confirmed return timeline. Women entrepreneurs who had established home-based businesses in Tirah after returning in 2025-26 have lost their only source of income. Many of these women are widows or have husbands with physical disabilities, leaving them with no alternative means of earning a dignified livelihood. Background In December 2025, tribal elders from Tirah signed a written agreement with the district administration following talks with security and administrative officials. The agreement was reached to facilitate a military operation against terrorists operating in the valley. Under the terms of that agreement, the administration committed to paying Rs3 million for each destroyed house and Rs1 million for each damaged house. Additionally, every displaced family was promised Rs250,000 through digital wallets upon registration at the Bagh Markaz and Paindi Cheena centres. The displacement came during the winter months, and displaced families have been living in Bara, where the majority currently reside. The harsh conditions they faced at the time of their forced departure remain a vivid memory for many. Why It Matters The slow pace of verification and aid distribution threatens to undermine trust in government commitments during security operations. IDPs committee spokesman Suhbat Khan reported that many homes in Tirah have been further damaged by mortar shelling or heavy monsoon rains, adding to the financial burden families will face upon return. Healthcare remains critically inadequate in Bara, with women, children, and the elderly suffering from various illnesses. Khan stated that some displaced persons have died due to lack of medical treatment. Beyond immediate relief, there are concerns about long-term exploitation. Khan alleged that an organised timber mafia has been indiscriminately cutting natural forests, while valuable land has been occupied for development schemes without consulting or compensating the original owners. Criticism has also been directed at Chief Minister Sohail Afridi and representatives of political parties, trade and welfare organisations, and civil society activists for failing to strongly advocate for the rights of Tirah's IDPs. What's Next Officials have announced that the return of internally displaced persons will begin in October, with a stated deadline of October 10. However, displaced families question whether this timeline will actually be met, given the delays experienced so far. Lala described the October plan as ill-conceived, arguing that rebuilding during harsh winter months would be extremely difficult. He has demanded that the return plan be moved forward to September so families can reach their homes before winter sets in the valley. Key questions remain unanswered, including whether the remaining 13,000 unverified families will be processed before the return begins, and how the government will address the additional damage caused by monsoon rains. The full assessment of traders' losses also remains outstanding, with no clear timeline for when that evaluation will take place.