KHAR: Thousands of people from five border villages of Mamond tehsil fled their homes on Tuesday after the expiry of deadline set by the political administration of Bajaur Agency because of the likelihood of a military operation in the region.

Residents told Dawn that at least 25,000 people of five villages had moved to other parts of the agency and that the evacuation was still continuing. “The number of displaced people would increase by Wednesday,” resident Azizullah Khan said.

The administration confirmed the evacuation from border areas of Mamond.

An official told Dawn on Tuesday: “I don’t know the exact figure, but at least 90 per cent people have left their homes.”

Evacuation of Mamond villages ordered

Officials refused to provide any facility to the displaced people and said that the administration was not responsible to provide facilities to these people during their migration.

Sources in the administration told Dawn that security forces and the administration had finalised arrangements to launch operation in the border areas of Mamond tehsil.

The political administration of Bajaur Agency on Monday asked people living in five villages of Mamond tehsil — Nakhtar, Ghakhi, Mula Killi, Gohati and Kitkoot — to evacuate their homes by Tuesday morning.

Jirga asks Afghan govt to stop militants’ infiltration

Meanwhile, a tribal jirga led by a member of National Assembly, Haji Bismillah Khan, has begun efforts to persuade security officials to withdraw the decision for launching military operation in the region.

Sources said that the jirga would meet security officials and members of the administration on Wednesday.

Published in Dawn, July 16th, 2014