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| Govt to kick out Afghan refugees from Bajaur |
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Monday, October 06, 2008
By Mushtaq Yusufzai
PESHAWAR: The government has announced to launch a crackdown against Afghan refugees living in militancy-hit Bajaur Agency allegedly involved in militancy and attacks against the security forces as a three-day deadline given to them to leave the tribal region expired on Sunday.
Also, hundreds of armed tribesmen finally stood and raised a tribal lashkar in one of militants' strongholds, Mamond subdivision, to flush militants out of the area and destroy their hideouts. Officials of the political administration in Khar, headquarters of Bajaur Agency, told The News that the government had planned to launch a crackdown on the Afghan refugees living in various areas of the region.
According to officials, around 30-35 thousand Afghan refugees were currently living in Bajaur, majority of them in Mamond subdivision, the area controlled by Maulana Faqir Mohammad-led Taliban.
They said majority of these refugees came from Afghanistan's Kunar province during Russian invasion and settled in the border villages. They were earlier accommodated in 25 refugee camps, which were demolished two years back after the government asked the refugees to leave for their country.
Tribal sources told The News that a very few Afghan refugee families were seen leaving for their homeland before expiry of the deadline. The Afghan Islamic Press (AIP) quoted Haji Sardar, Director General, Refugee Department, Kunar province, as saying that the issue of Afghan refugees would be raised in the Afghan Parliament called as "Da Masharano Jirga".
Also, Haji Sardar said seven to eight Afghan refugee families had so far arrived in Kunar from Bajaur and more were expected to come after the expiry of the deadline. The AIP also quoted him as asking Pakistan to discuss the issue of Afghan refugees in Bajaur with Afghan minister for refugees and United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR).
Senior government officials said some of the Afghan refugees living in Mamond were actively involved in militancy and current attacks against Pakistani security forces in Bajaur. A senior military official, who pleaded anonymity, said Pakistani security forces had been facing tough resistance in Charmang, Tang Khatta and Loisam areas where, he said, hundreds of Afghan Taliban along with tribal militants were fighting against the security forces.
Tribal sources said majority of the Afghan refugees during their long stay in Bajaur had purchased lands and properly constructed houses. Some of them are attached with various businesses and farming and have even obtained Computerised National Identity Cards (CNICs).
"Afghans living here may not leave Bajaur easily as they have mixed up with our tribal society by getting married with local people," observed Sahibzada Bahauddin, a tribal journalist based in Khar.
Though the three-day deadline expired, the government's crackdown on Afghan refugees may not succeed as majority of them are living in the areas where the government has no writ. Only those living in Khar and Siddiqabad areas could face trouble as a result of the proposed crackdown.
Also, tribal elders in Mamond areas said they would oppose the proposed crackdown of the government on refugees as they were their brothers and had been living with them for the past several decades.
Meanwhile, tribal elders of Mamond subdivision raised a tribal lashkar to take action against Taliban militants. Mamond is the headquarters of Taliban militants, led by Maulana Faqir Mohammad.
In the first-ever action, the lashkar, comprised of hundreds of armed tribesmen set on fire two houses owned by Rahmat Said Bacha and his brother Said Bacha. Taliban sources said Rahmat Said Bacha was serving as registrar of Taliban's Islamic Supreme Court in Seway, Mamond subdivision.
The lashkar could face more serious hardships as it is supposed to demolish houses of certain senior Taliban commanders, all belonging to same area, including Faqir Mohammad, banned TTP spokesman Maulvi Omar and several others.
Also, the security forces continued operation against militants and gunship helicopters heavily pounded suspected hideouts of Taliban fighters in Darra and Mulla Said Banda in Salarzai tehsil where tribal lashkar successfully expelled militants from their areas and burnt their hideouts.
There were, however, no details about the losses suffered by the Taliban. APP adds: Seven persons sustained critical injuries when an explosive device went off in Pusht area of Salarzai tehsil.
The members of Salarzai tribes were dispersing after holding a jirga at the residence of former MNA from Bajaur Agency, Shahabuddin when an explosive device hidden in a plastic bag went off causing serious injuries to seven tribesmen.
The injured were rushed to agency headquarters hospital in Khar where the condition of two was stated to be critical. Shahabuddin, while reacting to the blast, said action against the miscreants would continue till their complete elimination from the agency.
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ISSN 1563-9479 
