Waziristanis start returning from Khost
Those families of North Waziristan tribal district who have been living in Afghanistan since the start of military operation against terrorists in 2015 will be relocated to Bannu Bakakhel IDPs camp.
The process will formally start today (Friday).
Provincial Minister for Repatriation Iqbal Wazir shared on his social media handle that those displaced people of North Waziristan who had migrated to Afghanistan, would start returning to Bannu IDPs camp initially and they would later be relocated to their ancestral villages.
“All of these people would be provided financial and food assistance like the rest of IDPs of tribal districts including Rs12,000 a month cash and food items worth Rs8,000 with medical coverage” claimed Iqbal Wazir.
It is worth noting here that most of these people who are living in Afghanistan hail from North Waziristan’s Datta Khel, Mayzir, Saidgai, Shawal and adjacent areas.
An official of district administration told The Express Tribune that most of the displaced people of Ghulam Khan, Datta Khel, Madakhel, Saidgai Shawal are living in Paktika, Paktia, and Khost of Afghanistan.
The spokesperson of Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA) confirmed that around 5,000 to 6,000 families had showed their willingness to return and got registered for repatriation back to Pakistan.
“We asked all of them to get registered with PDMA as this is a golden opportunity for all those who want a safe return to Pakistan and want government assistance,” he informed, adding that these families are facing greate hardship in Afghanistan.
“Those who want to return should avail this opportunity as PDMA would assist them legally too which would not be possible in the future,” he said.
The PDMA data shows nearly 80 per cent of the displaced families of North Waziristan had repatriated but 15, 200 families still await to be relocated to their native villages including those from Afghanistan.
The government has already finalised arrangements for their repatriation to Pakistan and initial funding has also been made available.
“Upon arrival these families would be assisted with food and financial assistance, he said.
“These people have been directed to reach Ghulam Khan Crossing early in the morning they would be provided with registration cards at Bakakhel after which they would be provided with ration and cash, he informed.
A local spokesperson Ihsan Dawar said that all displaced people would be brought to IDPs camp escorted by security forces.
He said that these people migrated to Afghanistan with the start of Zarb-e-Azab military operation.
Published in The Express Tribune, December 10th, 2021.