The tide turns again
Tuesday, September 30, 2008
Thousands fleeing violent Pakistani border area to Afghanistan
Though out the 80s and 90s millions of Afghans fled to Pakistan to escape the wars that riddled their country. Now the tide has turned and the Pakistani's are fleeing across the border to Afghanistan.
Escalating violence in Pakistan's lawless tribal border regions has forced thousands to flee to eastern Afghanistan, the UN reported Monday.
The United Nations is reporting that 20,000 Pakistani refugees have fled the northern tribal region of Bajur to Afghanistan's Kunar province to avoid increased fighting.
Pakistan's military is carrying out an offensive in Bajur, a region mostly controlled by militants opposed to the Afghan and Pakistani governments.
According to Pakistani officials, the fighting in Bajur — the most northerly of Pakistan's wild tribal regions — has displaced as many as 500,000 people. Most have found shelter with relatives across northwestern Pakistan, though about 100,000 have taken refuge in camps set up by Pakistani authorities.
Though out the 80s and 90s millions of Afghans fled to Pakistan to escape the wars that riddled their country. Now the tide has turned and the Pakistani's are fleeing across the border to Afghanistan.
Escalating violence in Pakistan's lawless tribal border regions has forced thousands to flee to eastern Afghanistan, the UN reported Monday.
The United Nations is reporting that 20,000 Pakistani refugees have fled the northern tribal region of Bajur to Afghanistan's Kunar province to avoid increased fighting.
Pakistan's military is carrying out an offensive in Bajur, a region mostly controlled by militants opposed to the Afghan and Pakistani governments.
According to Pakistani officials, the fighting in Bajur — the most northerly of Pakistan's wild tribal regions — has displaced as many as 500,000 people. Most have found shelter with relatives across northwestern Pakistan, though about 100,000 have taken refuge in camps set up by Pakistani authorities.
