CHARSADDA: The law enforcement agencies on Thursday warned Afghan citizens residing in the district illegally of a massive crackdown against them if they failed to ensure their presence at Torkham Border by 8:00am today (Friday) for voluntary repatriation. Accompanied by the police, the personnel of the security forces made announcements through loud speakers in the mosques in various areas of the district. At least 22,000 Afghan families comprised of over 150,000 individuals reside in the district, according to an official estimate, among whom over 84,000 are residing in Munda Refugees Camp while others have rented houses at different areas. The short notice for evacuation has stirred panic among the Afghan refugees. District Police Officer, Sohail Khalid, said, “These are direct orders from the Pakistan Army and its implementation will be ensured in letter and spirit.” It may be mentioned here that the government last month granted a six-month extension to the stay of Afghan refugees in Pakistan which will end by December this year. Pak-Afghan relations took an ugly turn last month when soldiers of both countries manning Torkham border exchanged cross border fire. Several soldiers from both sides died and many others sustained injuries.
