Khyber To Expel Afghan Refugees

Security forces and civil administration officials on Wednesday asked the Khyber Agency tribesmen to expel Afghan citizens from their areas, warning that Afghan refugees should return to their country by May 19 after which any refugee found in the area would be forcibly expelled and their homes would be demolished.
Pakistan Today reported that Swat Scouts Commandant Colonel Naeemullah and assistant political agent of Jamrud, Saiful Islam, made the announcement while speaking to a joint Jirga of Shalmani, Mulagori and Kokikhel elders held at the Swat scouts camp in Jamrud Pump House.
Naeemullah reportedly tribal elders that government and security forces were focusing on two major issues including illegal Afghan settlers and unregistered weapons owned by local residents.
According to him, the practices of carrying unregistered weapons and providing shelter to illegal foreigners pose threats to Pakistan.
"Most terrorists came from Afghanistan and local helpers provided them with weapons and shelter in Khyber Agency to launch attacks in Pakistan," Naeem said, adding that two IED blasts were carried out in the last one month in Jamrud district which was being considered as a major security threat.
He said as per intelligence information, some of the locals were allegedly helping terrorists launch attacks from Afghanistan.
"Pakistan provided shelter to the Afghan citizens during the Russian occupation of Afghanistan, but now they need to go back to their home country as they are not loyal to Pakistan," Naeem maintained.
Naeem announced that May 9 has been set as the last date to get small weapons registered and surrender the heavy ones. He said that upon the expiration of the deadline, homes and compounds would be raided to confiscate illegal weapons. He said that if any unregistered weapon was recovered from a house, the owner of the tribe would be arrested.
He said many Afghan nationals residing in Pakistan were found to be involved in attacks targeting government and civil installations that killed innocent people