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More than 20,000 Pakistanis fled their homes in Pakistan's tribal region of Bajur into Afghanistan's Kunar province. (Google) |
PESHAWAR — Making a reversal of history, thousands of Pakistanis are fleeing their homes to take refuge in neighboring Afghanistan to flee the raging fighting between Pakistani security forces and pro-Taliban militants.
"We never thought that we will turn out to be refugees as well," Ahmadullah Mamond, a local journalist, told IslamOnline.net on Saturday, October 11.
"We had given shelter to 90,000 Afghan refugees, who had been living here for last 25 years, but now we are seeking refuge in their country."
According to the UN Agency for Refugees (UNHCR), more than 20,000 Pakistanis fled their homes in Pakistan's tribal region of Bajur into Kunar province in northeastern Afghanistan.
"It is a reality that nearly 30,000 (Pakistani) tribesmen have taken refuge in different parts of Kunar province during last three months," said Mamond.
The exodus of Pakistani refugees marks a reversal of history.
About eight million Afghans fled mostly to Pakistan over the 30 years of conflict that destroyed their country, from Soviet invasion to civil war.
Among this new batch of refugees in Afghanistan are Afghans who lived in exile in Pakistan for more than 20 years.
"They (refugees) opted for Afghanistan because they knew that there was no place left for Bajur residents in settled areas of NWFP," Ahmadullah said, referring to the northwestern frontier province.
Around 500,000 Bajur residents are taking shelter in several shelter camps set up by the NWFP government and some NGOs in different parts of the province.
"They knew that all fields and parks of NWFP have already been filled by Bajur refugees, that was why they decided to move to Afghanistan."
Kunar, a stronghold of former Afghan premier Gulbadin Hikmatyar-led Hizb-e-Islami, and Bajaur are separated only by two hours of twisting road through imposing mountains.
In one Kunar district, Shigal, about two-thirds of the 11,000 newcomers are Pakistanis and one-third Afghans, according to Patrick Schwaerzler of the International Committee of the Red Cross.
Miserable
Most of Pakistani refugees in Afghanistan are living in temporary shelter camps set by the Afghan government.
"The UNHCR and the Afghan government are providing plastic sheets, blankets, jerry cans and lanterns to the displaced families," said Ahmadullah, who have some relatives who have migrated to Afghanistan.
Many of the Pakistani refugees are living in unsafe areas in Afghanistan.
"Their lives are at risk because Kunar is nowadays one of the epicenters of clashes between Hikmatyar and US forces," Abdullah Khan, a tribal elder, told IOL.
"The US jets have been pounding different areas of Kunar indiscriminately," said Khan, whose family members are taking refuge in a shelter camp in Mardan district of NWFP.
"You never know, they can pound the refugees too because wherever the US jets see any gathering, they simply drop the bombs before confirming what is happening there."
Many of the Pakistani refugees are left jobless.
"There is nothing there," he said.
"They have to depend on the Afghan government relief. While in Pakistan, thousands of refugees are working as laborers in different areas to earn their livelihood."
Khan sees the presence of Pakistani refugees in Afghanistan poses a major security threat to Pakistan.
"They are living a miserable life there, and understandably they blame Pakistani government and army for their hardships.
"Therefore, there are strong chances whereby they can be exploited by anti-Pakistan elements in the name of revenge.
"Pushtuns cannot live without taking revenge. This can be a quality in peaceful days, but it is a disadvantage for them nowadays. They can be exploited by any individual or groups for its vested interest."
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