SWABI, Oct 18: The students who have completed their studies at various Madaris in the Swabi district have left for Afghanistan to fight for Taliban as ground attack by the allied forces becomes imminent, sources told Dawn here on Thursday.

The Afghan refugees living in Gohati and Gandaf camps said that more than 300 Afghans had already gone back to Afghanistan as reports reaching here suggested that the US-led coalition had finalized the plan for ground attack.

The sources said the majority of students had relinquished their studies and gone to Afghanistan to fight for Taliban. These students included Afghan refugees as well as Pakistanis, they said, adding that the seminaries gave a deserted look.

The head of a seminary, when contacted, said the students who had not received military training had been advised to receive training first and then move to the war front. “All the students of my school have gone to receive training in Mansehra,” he revealed on the condition of anonymity.