LANDI KOTAL: The long-awaited return of the internally displaced families of Kukikhel tribe will commence from Thursday (today).

Fata Disaster Management Authority in collaboration with the Khyber tribal district administration has established a registration centre at Levies’ Centre in Shah Kas in this regard.

FDMA and district administration officials have informed the tribal elders of at least 24 sub-tribes of Kukikhel to report to the centre for obtaining tribe-wise return plan.

Officials said that the return of thousands of displaced families would be completed till Oct 16.

The FDMA provides Rs10,000 as transportation charge and additional Rs25,000 as special grant to every returning family. Six month food ration along with non-food items (household things) are also given to every family to cater to their immediate demands after their return.

More than 12,000 Kukikhel families residing in different localities of Tirah valley near the Afghan border fled their homes in 2012 when proscribed Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan and Lashkar-i-Islam affiliates occupied the mountainous regions around Rajgal.

The thickly forested terrain provides natural camouflage to the militant groups who had fled their strongholds in Bara and other surrounding areas after the start of Khyber One military operation.

The region was cleared of all the militant groups and miscreants in 2014 but was declared safe for return only recently after the security forces conducted a series of combing operations and establishment of security checkposts and pickets at hilltops overlooking the Afghan border.

Published in Dawn, October 4th, 2018