Daily Times

LANDI KOTAL – The political administration of Khyber Agency bulldozed houses of Afghan nationals at Bacha Maina in Torkham on Monday.

According to official sources, the decision was taken after a large number of Afghan nationals refused to comply with a four-day deadline to vacate the area and cross the border into Afghanistan.

On April 7, Khyber Agency Political Agent Khalid Mehmood issued a notice in this regard and threatened to take stern action against anyone not abiding by the ultimatum.

After the deadline lapsed, the civil administration and law-enforcement agencies razed the houses of Afghan nationals to the ground with the help of bulldozers and tractors.

Political administration’s official said that the demolition was likely to continue till all Afghan nationals returned to their country. Another official told journalists that the decision was taken on security grounds.

He said, “Law-enforcement agencies have been repeatedly demanding (that Afghan nationals) should be asked to vacate the area.” The official said, “So far, action has been taken against 318 families in the area – almost 1,900 people.”

It is pertinent to mention here that the houses of Afghan nationals in the area were demolished for similar reasons in 2010. However, over the years, they were reconstructed.

A majority of Afghans are involved in business activities in Torkham. Many of them claim that they have been issued Proof of Registrations (POR) cards.

After the Army Public School massacre in Peshawar in December 2014, a crackdown had begun in which large number of Afghan nationals were rounded up, arrested or sent back to ensure national security.

Initially, the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf led provincial government in Khyber Pakhthunkhwa said that it would send all Afghans back to Afghanistan. However, it was later revealed the diktat only applied to unregistered refugees. Since then, many Afghan nationals, including seminary students, have chosen to leave on their own terms.