KHAR, May 25: Political authorities have launched a crackdown on Afghan nationals in Bajaur Agency and arrested 40 people for residing in the area without legal documents, officials said.

They said the political authorities, backed by the Khasadar forces, conducted raids in agency headquarters Khar, Inayat Kali and Nawagi and held the 40 Afghans.

An official said the crackdown had been launched at the request of tribal elders, who had held Afghans responsible for the deteriorating law and order situation in the agency.

He said the administration deported about 30 Afghans to their country on Wednesday.

Sources said the arrested Afghans did not posses travelling documents or valid registration cards being provided by the Commissionerate for Afghan Refugees and the United Nations High Commission for Refugees.

The government closed refugee camps in the Federally Administered Tribal Area, including Bajaur Agency, last year and asked all Afghans to leave the area.

A grand jirga held in Khar a few days ago had requested the political administration to expel all Afghans from the agency bordering Afghanistan’s troubled eastern Kunar province.