Published: October 07, 2008

Pakistan Deports 50,000 Afghani Refugees

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Pakistan has ordered the deportation of 50,000 Afghani refugees located in one of the tribal regions amid efforts to eradicate Taliban and Al-Qa'ida fighters. Pakistan has announced it is expelling all Afghani refugees in the Bajaur region, alleging they have ties to terror groups.

Police in the Bajaur region recently arrested 25 Afghans and said they would be deported. Some of these refugees have been in the area since the1980s. Bajaur is one of the main battlegrounds for Pakistani troops and fighters linked to the Taliban and Al-Qa'ida. Local government official Abd Al-Hasib said the houses of the refugees would be demolished so they would not be able to return, according to AP.

Families have started leaving, mainly for neighboring tribal regions, but there still remain about 30,000 refugees in the region, Reuters reported. Many are protesting that they are innocent people suffering a form of collective punishment. The United States has been pressuring Pakistan to take a tougher stance on terrorism.

Pakistan is an ally of the U.S. in the war on terror, but has been criticized for not doing enough to tackle the problem. Newly elected Pakistani President Asif Ali Zardari has vowed to cooperate in the fight against terrorism. Several recent U.S. military strikes against suspected terror hideouts on Pakistani soil have stirred anger in Islamabad.

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