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BARA: Dozens of tribesmen have started evacuating the Bara sub-division of Khyber Agency due to threats from the Mangal Bagh-led militant outfit Lashkar-e-Islam (LeI).
Due to its ongoing conflict with Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan, the LeI had given the Shinwari tribesmen and Afghan citizens living in Bara a choice to either join its fight or leave the sub-division within three days, sources said.
“LeI Militants asked residents to provide them one volunteer from each household,” a Shinwari elder settled in Bara told The Express Tribune on condition of anonymity. “We chose the second option and decided to leave Bara,” he said.
While the deadline for leaving Bara expired on Saturday night, according to sources, a local jirga urged LeI commanders to allow residents more time to evacuate. The militant group, subsequently, gave them one more day to leave the sub-division.
LeI militants initially told those evacuating Bara to leave all their belongings behind, the elder said. On Sunday morning, however, they allowed the tribesmen to take along any necessary household items, he added.
“Scores of residents settled in the Sipah, Akka Khel, Malikdin Khel, Kamar Khel and Qamber Khel areas of Bara began leaving the sub-division following this announcement.”
Jamaluddin, an Afghan citizen who left his house in Bara, said he, like hundreds of others leaving the area, had no idea about where to go.
“I am migrating to Peshawar now, but I have no idea where to go in Peshawar,” Jamal, who had been living in the sub-division for 40 years, said. “Our home was Bara… not Afghanistan or the border area.”
According to him, many of those who left Bara were unable to hire a vehicle and had to leave on foot. He added nearly all women and children living in the sub-division had left the area. “We have no choice… we cannot register ourselves with the LeI.”
Published in The Express Tribune, April 28th, 2014.
Due to its ongoing conflict with Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan, the LeI had given the Shinwari tribesmen and Afghan citizens living in Bara a choice to either join its fight or leave the sub-division within three days, sources said.
“LeI Militants asked residents to provide them one volunteer from each household,” a Shinwari elder settled in Bara told The Express Tribune on condition of anonymity. “We chose the second option and decided to leave Bara,” he said.
While the deadline for leaving Bara expired on Saturday night, according to sources, a local jirga urged LeI commanders to allow residents more time to evacuate. The militant group, subsequently, gave them one more day to leave the sub-division.
LeI militants initially told those evacuating Bara to leave all their belongings behind, the elder said. On Sunday morning, however, they allowed the tribesmen to take along any necessary household items, he added.
“Scores of residents settled in the Sipah, Akka Khel, Malikdin Khel, Kamar Khel and Qamber Khel areas of Bara began leaving the sub-division following this announcement.”
Jamaluddin, an Afghan citizen who left his house in Bara, said he, like hundreds of others leaving the area, had no idea about where to go.
“I am migrating to Peshawar now, but I have no idea where to go in Peshawar,” Jamal, who had been living in the sub-division for 40 years, said. “Our home was Bara… not Afghanistan or the border area.”
According to him, many of those who left Bara were unable to hire a vehicle and had to leave on foot. He added nearly all women and children living in the sub-division had left the area. “We have no choice… we cannot register ourselves with the LeI.”
Published in The Express Tribune, April 28th, 2014.
