FATA Situation

[Tiki Tam Tam]

Pakistanis flee into Afghanistan​

By Alastair Leithead
BBC News, Kabul

Thousands of Pakistanis have fled into Afghanistan with the security situation deteriorating in Pakistan's tribal regions over the past week.

Hundreds of families, comprising some 6,000 mainly women and children, have been crossing the border.

The UN refugee agency says clashes between Pakistan's Shia and Sunni groups have forced people to flee.

It is the first time so many people have crossed this way as for years it was Afghans fleeing fighting.


It's the first time that we see this in very large numbers
Salvatore Lombardo, UNHCR

The refugees have been crossing the border between Pakistan's tribal areas and south-eastern Afghan provinces.

The UN refugee agency (UNHCR) says historic clashes between Shias and Sunnis in the villages in Kurram, North West Frontier Province, have escalated in the past couple of weeks.

This and the unstable situation in that part of Pakistan have led to the movement of so many people, the UNHCR says.

"It's the first time that we see this in very large numbers which shows that security in those areas has seriously deteriorated and it's probably become out of control," said Salvatore Lombardo, a UNHCR representative in Kabul.

He said many of the people had been given shelter in Afghanistan by villagers who live by the Pashtun Valley tribal code of hospitality, and tents were being handed out to help provide shelter as winter was intensifying along the border.

Discussions

Over the past three decades millions of Afghans fled the violence in their country during the Soviet occupation, the civil war and then in the fighting that saw the Taleban take control of Afghanistan.

With the rise of the Pakistani Taleban and militant Islamic groups along the Pakistan side of the border, the UN says it now appears that parts of Afghanistan are safer for families.

It is hoped discussions within the tribal groups can resolve the situation and allow the people to return home.

BBC NEWS | World | South Asia | Pakistanis flee into Afghanistan

The situation must be real serious that people are fleeing for safer sanctuaries, though one wonders how Afghanistan could be safer than Pakistan.

What has the Shia Sunnis to do with this exodus? And why should there be sectarian clashes?

Is it that the Taliban which is going hammer and tongs against the Shias? If so, why?

Is the contiguous area of Afghanistan where these people are fleeing, a Shia belt?

 

[roadrunner]

The situation must be real serious that people are fleeing for safer sanctuaries, though one wonders how Afghanistan could be safer than Pakistan.

What has the Shia Sunnis to do with this exodus? And why should there be sectarian clashes?

Is it that the Taliban which is going hammer and tongs against the Shias? If so, why?

Is the contiguous area of Afghanistan where these people are fleeing, a Shia belt?

Kurram is mainly Shia, not Sunni. That kind of eliminates the Taliban who would be Sunni I would have thought. Are the Shias going at the Sunnis, or perhaps Al Q militants, causing the exodus of refugees? Could be that the local tribesmen have turned against the foreign militant, and it's not pure Shia-Sunni violence.

I'm not sure why they're flowing into Afghanistan though, other parts of the NWFP are safer, but perhaps the UNHCR has provided space for them in that area.

 

[Spring Onion]

The situation must be real serious that people are fleeing for safer sanctuaries, though one wonders how Afghanistan could be safer than Pakistan.

What has the Shia Sunnis to do with this exodus? And why should there be sectarian clashes?

Is it that the Taliban which is going hammer and tongs against the Shias? If so, why?

Is the contiguous area of Afghanistan where these people are fleeing, a Shia belt?

awwwwwwwww another post to twist things.

This was about people from Kurram Agency and not the entire FATA.
And BTW one more information the recent Intra-Tribal clashes in Aurakzai were also ignited by some elements from Afghanistan.

and mostly who flee are sunnis.


No wonder we need to cull some anti-Pakistan donkyes.

BTW worse reporting by BBC.
they need to learn how to report a news.

 

[AgNoStiC MuSliM]

Salim:

Here is a map. This is the sectarian violence in Parachinar (Kurram Agency) that has been going on for a couple of months now. The recent reports indicate that militants are being sent in to bolster the Sunni side (recent US intel reports indicate that AQ is stepping up efforts to destabilize Pakistan, so perhaps an attempt to stoke sectarian tensions). The area is adjacent to Afghanistan, but I am not familiar with the sectarian breakup on the Afghan side.

 

[Tiki Tam Tam]

Agnostic,

Thank you for explaining the situation.

I would be grateful if you could give a more detailed analysis with the genesis or point me in the direction of a link. I ask you since your posts dispassionately presents the facts.

Which all areas are Shia and which all are Sunnis?

Isn't Dir, Swat, Chitral and Kohistan not also Shias?

I also thank you for your matured posts since it was education and not mere breast beating as some are prone to do to obfuscate the issue.

 

[Spring Onion]

Agnostic,

Which all areas are Shia and which all are Sunnis?

Isn't Dir, Swat, Chitral and Kohistan not also Shias?

In Swat there are hadly some shias while Dir being at border with Chitral have some population but not in significant numbers.

In Kohistan also not much of significant numbers.
While in Chitral well its divided mainly between Shias, Sunnis and Agha Khanis.

While in some other areas like Kohat there are good number of shias.

 

[Tiki Tam Tam]

Jana,

Thank you.

What is the composition opposite these areas in Afghanistan?

 

[Proud to be Pakistani]

In all Pakistan Shia population is 19% . In NWFP its the minimum possible as Pashtuns are mostly of Sunni Sect. Shia of Iranian Origin are in some areas of FATA ... Mostly in Kurram Agency ...main fighting point is Parachinar which is densely populated Shia Area. The Shias have support form Afghan Side and the Sunnis have support from the Taliban elements... Pakistan Army has enforced curfew but still the fight is going on and it seems that Army is not siding any of the tribes and they are killing each other at Will.

Some sources reported that the Shias killed few people in Parachinar and put their bodies in the Wheat Grinder ... Nearly 30 Sunnis and this started the fighting ... Sources from Parachinar say that Pak Army is supporting the Sunni Tribes and they are fighting with Shia which dominante in the Area and this is cause the Shias to flee into Afghanistan to save their Heads.

 

[Tiki Tam Tam]

PtbP,

Thanks.

Are the areas opposite Kurram Agency in Afghanistan, a Shia belt?

Can anyone give a map that indicates the Shia and Sunni belts in Pakistan and adjoining areas in Afghanistan?

With that it will become easier to understand what is going on rather than muddle around on the basis of news reports.

 

[Vinod2070]

Proud my understanding was about 15 % Shias in Pakistan.

This link mentions 20%.

Demographics of Islam - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Are you sure about the 4-8%?

 

[AgNoStiC MuSliM]

In all Pakistan Shia population is 4 -8 % . In NWFP its the minimum possible as Pashtuns are mostly of Sunni Sect. Shia of Iranian Origin are in some areas of FATA ... Mostly in Kurram Agency ...main fighting point is Parachinar which is densely populated Shia Area. The Shias have support form Afghan Side and the Sunnis have support from the Taliban elements... Pakistan Army has enforced curfew but still the fight is going on and it seems that Army is not siding any of the tribes and they are killing each other at Will.

Some sources reported that the Shias killed few people in Parachinar and put their bodies in the Wheat Grinder ... Nearly 30 Sunnis and this started the fighting ... Sources from Parachinar say that Pak Army is supporting the Sunni Tribes and they are fighting with Shia which dominante in the Area and this is cause the Shias to flee into Afghanistan to save their Heads.

P2bP:

Those reports remain speculative. There is nothing conclusive that indicates one side or the other started the fighting. You also contradict yourself by first stating that the Army is neutral, and then that it is supporting the Sunni.

From the reports emanating from the area, the military has targeted anyone violating the ceasefire. When there is violence like this, the innocent civilian population will always flee. They fled from Swat, and they fled from S Waziristan.

My understanding of the Shia population was closes to 20 percent as well.

 

[AgNoStiC MuSliM]

Map of heavy Shia population:



Salim,

This map indicates that the area across the border in Afghanistan does have a high Shia population. The map doesn't clarify whether they are in a majority though. The pie chart, hard to see, also seems to suggest a 15 percent Shia population in Pakistan.

 

[Spring Onion]

PtbP,

Thanks.

Are the areas opposite Kurram Agency in Afghanistan, a Shia belt?

Can anyone give a map that indicates the Shia and Sunni belts in Pakistan and adjoining areas in Afghanistan?
Jana,

Thank you.

What is the composition opposite these areas in Afghanistan?

Khost and Paktia provinces of Afghanistan are bordering the Kurram Agency rather Parachinar and these are mainly sunni parts of Afghanistan.

Mostly Shias in Afghanistan are in the North that is controlled by Northern Alliance in the past and still have infulence there.

Mostly Persian speaking Hazaraz from North of Afghanistan are shias.
They densly persent in Mazar-e-Sharif if you guys have heard the name

 

[roadrunner]

In all Pakistan Shia population is 4 -8 % . In NWFP its the minimum possible as Pashtuns are mostly of Sunni Sect. Shia of Iranian Origin are in some areas of FATA .

Bloody hell. Dont post so authoritatively when you aren't sure. Shia of Iranian origin, what does that mean? The Shia Pashtuns are exactly the same as the Sunni Pashtuns. The Shia population is actually highest in the NWFP compared to any other region of Pakistan, due to the Iran being next door virtually.

The Shias have support form Afghan Side and the Sunnis have support from the Taliban elements...

I don't agree the Shias have support from the Afghan side. There've been reports of the Sunnis supported by the Pakistani Taliban. I don't believe that either, but could be true.

this is cause the Shias to flee into Afghanistan to save their Heads.

Who is fleeing, Shias or Sunnis? If the Shias are fleeing, it's most likely because most of Khurram Agency is Shia and they're refugees. The Sunnis are not powerful enough in Khurram Agency to make the Shias flee.

 

[roadrunner]

Khost is Sunni. Khurram Agency is surrounded by Sunnis afaik.