Refuge in a war-torn country

Thousands of refugees flee a military offensive by Pakistan's army, pouring across the border into Afghanistan. Gavino Garay reports.

Published

about 2 years ago

Categories

World

Topics

Asia, World, Immigration

People

Gavino Garay

Places

Pakistan, Afghanistan, Asia, Khost

Transcript

Thousands of Pakistanis are fleeing the North Waziristan - to the rugged hills of Afghanistan. This comes after Pakistan's army launched an offensive to rid a northern province of Taliban militants. Staying alive meant letting go. (SOUNDBITE) (Pashto) UNIDENTIFIED WOMAN AND PAKISTANI REFUGEE, SAYING: "Due to heavy fighting we left everything behind. Our men stayed at home but we escaped. We don't have food to eat and clothes to wear. We need urgent help." Among the hundreds of white U.N. tents dotted across Afghanistan's Khost province -- anguish (CHILD CRYING). While locals here are doing what they can to lend a hand to the refugees, Pakistani intelligence officials are concerned that some of them could be Taliban supporters. Pakistan's military isn't settling for negotiations with the Pakistani Taliban either. They told residents in Waziristan to get out -- or be considered a militant.