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"When they see their mothers and sisters queuing for food like beggars, they have no resistance to turn down Taliban’s offer," one refugee explained. |
PESHAWAR — Sultan Khan, 18, used to play cricket outside a sprawling refugee camp seven kilometers north of Peshawar, where he has been taking refuge with his family since the army launched an offensive against pro-Taliban tribesmen in Bajur six months ago.
Cricket is still being played, but Sultan is no more one of the player.
He joined local Taliban militants, who have been battling the army forces in Bajur, some 150 kilometers from Peshawar, the capital of the North Western Frontier Province (NWFP).
"We tried our best to stop him, but he didn’t listen," Ismaeel Khan, Sultan's cousin, told IslamOline.net during a visit to the camp.
Sultan was one of several youths who earlier took refuge in this camp, but later joined the Taliban ranks to "avenge" family members killed in government attacks and US strikes.
He lost his elder brother and two cousins when army forces shelled targets near Damadola village, bombed out by US drones in December 2007, six months ago.
Sultan and the rest of his family had to flee and seek shelter in the refugee camp.
"I and our other family members had seen him with some suspicious people, who did not look like refugees," Ismaeel said.
"I asked him about them, but he refused to answer."
Ismaeel says one day Sultan told him he was going back to Bajur to fight alongside Taliban to "avenge" his brother and cousins.
"We tried to convince him that this is not the way and that it will create more problems for him and us, but he didn’t listen."
Ismaeel says that it’s been over three months and they have not heard about his cousin.
"We just heard from some of our acquaintances in Bajur that he has joined Taliban. We have no idea if he is dead or alive."
Recruitment Center
Intelligence agencies have recently sent a report to the federal government that camps sheltering people forced to flee their homes in the tribal areas have become recruitment centers for Taliban.
"Yes, the government has received such reports," a senior Interior Ministry official told IOL, requesting anonymity for not being authorized to discuss the report with the media.
Taliban representatives reportedly visit refugee camps in different parts of NWFP, wooing angry youths.
"The government is taking it seriously. It’s a dangerous phenomenon as scores of youths have joined Taliban," said the official.
"Security agencies have already deputed several undercover agents in such camps to monitor the Taliban movement."
Sher baz, an aging refugee, confirms that hundreds of youths have recently joined Taliban ranks to fight security forces.
"Taliban do not have to do much to persuade the youths. They are already charged, and fall prey to them easily," he told IOL, playing with his long white beard.
"When they see their mothers and sisters queuing for food like beggars, they have no resistance to turn down Taliban’s offer," he explained.
"I am an aging man, and my health doesn’t allow me to join Taliban, otherwise I would have done the same."
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