ISLAMABAD: Federal Minister for Information and Broadcasting Attaullah Tarar on Tuesday said the migration of tribes from District Khyber during the winter is a historical norm, rejecting the “baseless narrative” peddled by the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government spokesperson.
Addressing a press conference alongside Defense Minister Khawaja Muhammad Asif and the Prime Minister’s Coordinator for Information, Ikhtiar Wali, the minister emphasized that the Afridi and Aka Khel tribes have a unique lifestyle, migrating from Tirah in winter and returning in summer.
Tarar noted that history bears witness to this seasonal migration, citing Edward A. Murphy’s 1899 book, The Khyber, which references an official gazetteer from 1880. He pointed out that this historical record explicitly documents the tribes’ habitual winter migration, describing it as an established reality recognized in international literature.
Responding to questions about the timing of the current movement, the minister explained that while winter traditionally began in October, climate change has significantly shifted seasonal cycles. He remarked that snowfall, which historically occurred in November, is now delayed until late January, representing a total seasonal shift.
He also referred to a notification issued by the KP government itself, which stated that the tribes are moving voluntarily. The minister urged provincial officials to avoid politicizing a centuries-old traditional practice.