PAKISTAN: AFGHAN REFUGEES ORDERED TO LEAVE NORTH WAZIRISTAN
Miran Shah, 14 March (AKI/DAWN) - The Pakistani political authorities in North Waziristan have ordered the Afghan nationals in this tribal belt which lies on the Afghan-Pakistan border, to leave the area immediately. A radio broadcast in the regional headquarters of Miran Shah warned them of strict action if they stayed on in the area. Officials said that the warning was issued following reports that Afghan nationals were involved in recent clashes in the area.
The officials said security forces had arrested eight Afghans near Miran Shah and moved them to some other location for interrogation.
The government had closed refugee camps in North Waziristan and another six tribal areas last year.
The officials said that despite the closure of the camps a large number of Afghans were still living there without legal documents. Many Afghans even ran business in the area.
Refugee camps were closed following reports that the pro-Taliban militants and their local supporters were using them as launching pads for attacks on allied forces in Afghanistan.
Tension, meanwhile, prevails in the area and reports of sporadic gunfire and rocket attacks have been received from different parts of the agency where, according to official claims, more than 170 militants had been killed.
Sources said that Pakistani Frontier Corps fort in Boya, about 10 kilometres west from Miran Shah, was attacked on Sunday night. They said that heavy gunfire between security forces and militants started at about 7.30 pm and continued till 1 am.
The sources also said that troops had pounded suspected locations with artillery which also hit some residential compounds.
The officials said that after the clashes, the tribal elders of Boya met the political authorities in Miran Shah, asking them to avoid any indiscriminate shelling.
Residents said that people had started leaving their homes and moving to safe places.
Authorities have relaxed the curfew hours from 9 am to 5 pm in Miran Shah and security has been tightened with troops patrolling the markets.
Telephone lines were repaired in many areas but the town and adjoining areas are still without electricity and people have been a facing shortage of drinking water for a week.
The officials said security forces had arrested eight Afghans near Miran Shah and moved them to some other location for interrogation.
The government had closed refugee camps in North Waziristan and another six tribal areas last year.
The officials said that despite the closure of the camps a large number of Afghans were still living there without legal documents. Many Afghans even ran business in the area.
Refugee camps were closed following reports that the pro-Taliban militants and their local supporters were using them as launching pads for attacks on allied forces in Afghanistan.
Tension, meanwhile, prevails in the area and reports of sporadic gunfire and rocket attacks have been received from different parts of the agency where, according to official claims, more than 170 militants had been killed.
Sources said that Pakistani Frontier Corps fort in Boya, about 10 kilometres west from Miran Shah, was attacked on Sunday night. They said that heavy gunfire between security forces and militants started at about 7.30 pm and continued till 1 am.
The sources also said that troops had pounded suspected locations with artillery which also hit some residential compounds.
The officials said that after the clashes, the tribal elders of Boya met the political authorities in Miran Shah, asking them to avoid any indiscriminate shelling.
Residents said that people had started leaving their homes and moving to safe places.
Authorities have relaxed the curfew hours from 9 am to 5 pm in Miran Shah and security has been tightened with troops patrolling the markets.
Telephone lines were repaired in many areas but the town and adjoining areas are still without electricity and people have been a facing shortage of drinking water for a week.
posted by Marko at 3/14/2006 06:32:00 AM
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