At least 445 IDPs return home from Afghanistan

MIRANSHAH: As many as 445 Pakistanis, who had taken refuge in neighbouring Afghanistan after the Pakistan Army launched Operation Zarb-e-Azb against militants in Waziristan, returned to Pakistan on Monday through the Ghulam Khan border post.

The 89 tribal families hail from the Khadar Khel Wazir village of Data Khel Tehsil.

After fleeing to Afghanistan, they had taken shelter in temporary camps in the Khost province of Afghanistan.

The families returned home through a collaboration between the Afghan and Pakistani authorities.

As they walked across the border, they were greeted by officials of Waziristan Political Administration.

The political administration officials revealed that as many as 3,000 Pakistani families, who had fled violence in the tribal areas, were still living in different camps in Afghanistan’s Khost, Paktika and Paktia provinces.

The official added that they had made preparations for the impending return of around 1,200 displaced families while they were working with the Afghan government to bring the remaining families back home as well since peace had been fully restored in Waziristan.

Meanwhile, Qasim Uddin, head of the Khadar Khel Tribe, was elated after crossing back into Pakistan.

“We are very happy with the treatment the IDPs have received in Khost,” he said, adding that the Afghan authorities provided them with all the facilities.

Published in The Express Tribune, July 11^th, 2017.