CHITRAL: Clarifying the reports that some Chitralis have joined the Afghan National Army (ANA), an official said on Saturday that many families had shifted to Bamburet and Ramboor valleys in Chitral from Nuristan province of Afghanistan decades ago and some of their members were nowadays working as labourers across the border.
To substantiate his claim, District Coordination Officer (DCO) Rehmatullah Wazir presented before the media those 14 persons who had reportedly joined the ANA in Afghanistan.
Some of those who have returned from Afghanistan included Khalilur Rehman, Qudratullah, Abdul Rasheed, Ahmed Deen, Feroz, Hussainullah, Salman Khan, Barat Khan and Mohammad Yousaf.
“These people were neither employed by the Afghan National Army nor the Afghan National Police, but they worked for private companies as labourers,” the DCO said.
Rehmatullah Wazir said efforts were being made to bring back the rest of the local people working in Afghanistan.
The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Home and Tribal Affairs Department said in a statement almost one week ago that many young men belonging to the border areas in Chitral district had joined the ANA.
The statement said the department had reliable information that several jobless youth hailing from Chitral were serving in Afghanistan.
Talking to The News, Mohammad Yousaf, who was among the returning youth, said none of them had been recruited in the ANA or the Afghan National Police.
However, he admitted that some Pakistanis from Chitral worked for the Afghan army as labourers.
Another youth Qudratullah said that not only from Chitral but people from all over Khyber Pakhtunkhwa worked in Afghanistan to earn their livelihood. He said they had gone to Afghanistan for jobs, and there was no truth in the reports that they had been serving in the ANA.a
To substantiate his claim, District Coordination Officer (DCO) Rehmatullah Wazir presented before the media those 14 persons who had reportedly joined the ANA in Afghanistan.
Some of those who have returned from Afghanistan included Khalilur Rehman, Qudratullah, Abdul Rasheed, Ahmed Deen, Feroz, Hussainullah, Salman Khan, Barat Khan and Mohammad Yousaf.
“These people were neither employed by the Afghan National Army nor the Afghan National Police, but they worked for private companies as labourers,” the DCO said.
Rehmatullah Wazir said efforts were being made to bring back the rest of the local people working in Afghanistan.
The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Home and Tribal Affairs Department said in a statement almost one week ago that many young men belonging to the border areas in Chitral district had joined the ANA.
The statement said the department had reliable information that several jobless youth hailing from Chitral were serving in Afghanistan.
Talking to The News, Mohammad Yousaf, who was among the returning youth, said none of them had been recruited in the ANA or the Afghan National Police.
However, he admitted that some Pakistanis from Chitral worked for the Afghan army as labourers.
Another youth Qudratullah said that not only from Chitral but people from all over Khyber Pakhtunkhwa worked in Afghanistan to earn their livelihood. He said they had gone to Afghanistan for jobs, and there was no truth in the reports that they had been serving in the ANA.a