People of restive tribal agencies, who were ordered to leave their homes ahead of Pakistan Army’s anti-Taliban offensive, have started returning to their homes.
According to officials, over 5000 families (nearly 25,000 civilians) will head to their villages that have now been declared ‘safe’ by authorities. The process will complete in three days.
Offensives in semi-autonomous tribal areas of North Waziristan, Khyber and South Waziristan displaced nearly a million people from 2009 to 2014.
The tribal areas on the Afghan border have for years been a hideout for militants of all stripes, including Al-Qaeda and the Taliban as well as foreign fighters such as Uzbeks.
