MARDAN, May 24: At least 15 families, mostly Pakhtoons, returned to Afghanistan within a week and the total number of returnees reached to 100 in the past two months.

Three camps at Baghicha, Jalala and Kagan were established for the Afghan refugees in Mardan district when the DPs flooded to Pakistan in which some 5,000 families resided here during the crises in Afghanistan.

However, some 1000 families of Afghans were living outside the camps in private rented houses in various areas of the district. In Mardan most of the refugees belonged to Nangrahar, Kunar, Laghman Wilayat and a few families of Kabul Wilayat also lived.

Most of the refugees are returning from Mardan to Afghanistan under the UNHCR programme as they have introduced a well-organized programme in the district. A representative of the UNHCR Ghulam Rabbani who is also vice-president of Afghan Refugees in Mardan district, revealed that just after taking the charge by Karzai administration, non-Pushto speaking people started to reach Afghanistan but now Pakhtoons were also returning as they have great confidence in the new set-up in Kabul.

He said that the UNHCR has opened its office in Mardan to extend every possible help to the Afghan refugee for their safe return to their country. He said that the officials of the UNHCR giving these families $20 per head beside 150 kilograms of wheat, a tent and some kitchen items to these families.

Mr Rabbani said that these items were being given to the Afghans at Mehmand Darra inside Afghanistan and checking were carried out at Azakhel in Nowshehra district. However, he confirmed that some families came back to Pakistan but they are very few in number and representatives and officials of UNHCR have a vigilant eye on such families, he claimed.

He said that some 1,000 families of Afghans living in different areas of the district who will never return to Afghanistan as most of them are doing good business or they dont have confidence in the new set-up of Karzai administration. Moreover, some refugees have family feuds in their own areas in Afghanistan therefore they have decided to stay here.

Mr Rabbani dispelled the impressions that Pakhtoons were condemned and victimized by the non-Pakhtoons in the North however some cases were registered but that doesn’t mean that it can create problems among Afghans.