PESHAWAR: Twenty-nine Afghan nationals arrested during the military operation in North Waziristan have been handed over to Afghanistan.

According to a statement issued here by ISPR, the Afghans were in the custody of security forces. They were interrogated and it was found that they had no connection with terrorist groups.

They were handed over to Afghan officials at the Ghulam Khan post “as a goodwill gesture”.

This is the first time that the military has confirmed arrest of Afghan nationals since the launching of Zarb-i-Azb operation against militants in North Waziristan.

ISPR said the Afghan natio­nals had been residing in the area without valid documents.

The government had closed all camps of Afghan refugees in Fata in 2005.

Published in Dawn, November 1st , 2014