Pakistan: thousands remain displaced after military operations in South Waziristan

Transcription

1 10 June 2005 Pakistan: thousands remain displaced after military operations Up to 50,000 people were internally displaced due to security operations by the Pak i- stani military during 2004 and an undetermined number remain internally displaced today. Since March 2004, some 70,000 troops have been based in the region to remove foreign fighters suspected of terrorist activities and seeking shelter among the tribal population. Hundreds of civilian casualties, including women and children, have been reported as a result of the fighting. The situation faced by the internally displaced and returnees is undocumented, but local media and the National Human Rights Commission of Pakistan have painted a grim picture of the problems facing the local population, including devastation of houses and fields, closure of schools as well as a need for medical and food aid. As of September 2004, the internally displaced, as well as the local population, had reportedly not received any assistance from the authorities. Humanitarian organisations and journalists continue to be barred from entering the conflict-affected region by Pakistani authorities, who deny there is a humanitarian crisis. National human rights bodies and international agencies have expressed strong concern over the situation. Pakistani authorities should ensure that humanitarian standards are met, launch a survey to establish the actual extent of internal displacement in the region and pay particular attention to the special needs of the displaced population. New displacement is also reported from Balochistan, where clashes between government forces and militants demanding increased autonomy and a greater share of the revenue from the province s natural resources led to the displacement of several thousand people in early In Pakistani-controlled Kashmir on the other hand, the November 2003 ceasefire between Pakistan and India has encouraged thousands of internally displaced people to return to their villages. According to local media, only 200 families remain internally displaced in the region.

2 Background to displacement in South Waziristan South Waziristan which comprises about 6,500 square kilometres and around 430,000 inhabitants (1998 census), is the largest of the seven Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA) bordering Afghanistan. The tribal areas are indirectly governed by political agents a system that was created by the former British rulers. In practice, central government rarely exerted direct control beyond the main roads and towns, with traditional tribal structures ruling everywhere else in the territory. South Waziristan consists of three sub-divisions: Ladha, Sarokai, and Wana, the latter serving as the capital. Wana has some strategic importance as it is the most feasible transit station for a proposed gas pipeline from Turkmenistan to India or the Pakistani coast. The main inhabitants of this region are two Pashtun tribes, Wazir (mainly inhabiting Wana) and Mahsud (mainly inhabiting Ladha and Sarokai). The Waziri tribes have maintained close relations for centuries with other Waziris living across the British-drawn border in Afghanistan. Sources: Ahmad, 27 September 2004; Asia Times Online, 14 January 2003, Rediff.com, 7 April 2004; Pakistan Census Organisation at Geo Hive web site Since March 2004, the Pakistani army has carried out operations as part of the US-led campaign to eradicate the remnants of the Taliban and al-qaeda in Afghanistan. The largest offensive occurred in March 2004 in an effort to capture up to 500 foreign Islamist militants who were believed to be hiding on the Pakistani side of the border. The offensive came after months of mounting tensions between tribal leaders and Pakistani authorities who maintained that certain clans were protecting foreign Islamist fighters. The operation was mainly focused on an area of about 30 square kilometres around the district capital of Wana, some 20 kilometres from the border with Afghanistan. During the offensive, some 70,000 troops were deployed in the border region and between 5,000 and 7,500 troops were directly involved in the fighting (AI, 1 April 2004). The use of both light and heavy artillery against the militants and an intensive search for collaborators among the civilian population led to many civilian casualties and the demolition of hundreds of houses, and forced thousands to flee their homes. Estimates of the number of people forced out by the military and paramilitary troops during the March operation vary from "thousands" to at least 30,000 (IRIN, 8 September 2004; Al Jazeera, 20 March 2004; AI, 1 April 2004). Amnesty International reports that civilians of one village were given three hours to vacate their homes which forced many to leave valuables behind. While some of the displaced went to live with relatives, hundreds of people, including women and children, set up camps in the open on the outskirts of villages where no official shelter was made available to them (AI, 1 April 2004). Local media reported that hundreds of families returned after the operation was halted on 28 March Apart from demolished houses, many found their livestock dead and orchards destroyed (AI, 1 April 2004; The News, 30 March 2004). Both journalists and humanitarian organisations were categorically denied access to the affected population (One- World South Asia, 26 March 2004). Amnesty International reported that a wide range of human rights violations were committed during the two-week operation. The International Committee of the 2

3 Red Cross (ICRC) did a small-scale humanitarian assessment in March, but could not draw any conclusions as large areas were inaccessible (IRIN, 19 August 2004). After March 2004, the military operation continued at a lower level, but with several reports of civilian casualties (Ahmad, 27 September 2004; South Asian Tribune, 26 September 2004; BBC, 24 September 2004; Dawn, 22 September 2004). A peace agreement was signed with local tribes in April 2004, but collapsed in June as tribal militants were suspected of still hiding foreign fighters in the area (Mir, 2 May 2005). Clashes erupted again in June 2004 around the mountainous area of Shakai close to the border with Afghanistan. Internally displaced who fled from Shakai to the town of Dera Ismail Khan in the Derajat division said an estimated 1,000 families had fled Shakai and surrounding areas since the fighting started. Many moved to urban and rural areas of Tank, adjacent to Dera Ismail Khan (IRIN, 8 September 2004). In July, a large number of families were seen leaving the Santoi and Mantoi mountain regions as Pakistani military forces bombed Islamist militant bases there (Dawn, 14 July and 20 July 2004). Local sources say that thousands left South Waziristan altogether. One newspaper reported that 12,000 people had fled to North Waziristan due to the army operation (The News, 10 July 2004; IRIN, 19 August 2004). During June and July 2004, the estimated 30,000-40,000 Afghan refugees residing in the area for decades were also targeted in order to hinder Islamist militants from hiding in the camps. The Pakistani government gave the refugees a 72-hour deadline to leave the area on the grounds that their safety could not be guaranteed any longer. In July 2004 alone, 25,000 people poured back into Afghanistan. UNHCR has described their return as "forcible repatriation" (COE-DMHA, 13 July 2004; NYT, 21 July 2004; AFP 23 July 2004). One source also says that over 30,000 local tribesmen have reportedly also crossed into Afghanistan to seek refuge from the Pakistani military (Ahmad, 27 September 2004). Military operations during September, October and November 2004 in areas inhabited mainly by the Mahsuds also led to massive displacement. Displaced Mahsud families fled to the Frontier Region Jandola or further away to Tank, Dera Ismail Khan and Karachi, which has the largest concentration of ethnic Pashtuns in Pakistan. In September 2004, an estimated 20,000 people were reported to have fled to Karachi. According to data collected from local bus drivers who are mainly Pashtun, it was estimated as of mid-september 2004 that at least 500 tribal people had arrived in Karachi daily since the beginning of the month, many after having lost everything in the tribal areas. The number of internally displaced moving to the closer areas of Tank and Dera Ismail Khan could not be quantified (Ahmad, 27 September 2004). As of September 2004, one estimate said that up to 50,000 people were internally displaced by the fighting (BBC, 24 September 2004). A factfinding mission by the Peshawar High Court Bar Association (PHCBA) in September 2004 also concluded that tho u- sands were displaced, apart from civilian casualties and human rights abuses (Dawn, 22 September 2004). Most of the displaced moved in with friends and rela- 3

4 tives. There were reports of injured people being stuck in the conflict-affected area due to the lack of vehicles, safe passage and absence of doctors (The News, 10 November 2004, 27 October 2004). A peace agreement was signed with the Mahsuds in February 2005, but tensions were still running high in the region months later. In April 2005, the United States stated that foreign fighters were still infiltrating Afghanistan from Pakistan and asked Pakistani authorities to reinforce military action against remnants of Taliban and al-qaeda operating from bases in the region. Pakistani authorities have denied the allegations and say they are in control of the region (Mir, 2 May 2005; BBC, 20 April 2005). Information about the living conditions of the displaced population is virtually non-existent and is complicated by the fact that the displaced live with relatives and friends. Many reportedly found shelter in an abandoned Afghan refugee camp at Dabara. Outside South Waziristan, ICRC carried out several assessment missions during 2004 and 2005 in adjacent areas without finding any IDP settlements. The PHCBA has asked the government to set up camps for the displaced people (Dawn, 22 September 2004; ICRC, 9 June 2005). Little is also known about the conditions for returnees. According to a fact-finding mission by the independent Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP), the area has been badly affected by the conflict. Search operations, raids on houses, road blocks and economic sanctions have resulted in heavy financial losses for residents in the area. In addition, civilians also face closed schools, steeply increasing food prices and food shortages. In September 2004, local residents in the Wana district reported that no assistance had been given to repair and rebuild demolished houses, restart livelihoods and agricultural activities (IRIN, 8 September 2004). While blocking all journalists and humanitarian organisations from entering the area, Pakistani military authorities have denied all reports of a humanitarian crisis and displacement in the area and say there is a proper framework for providing assistance to the affected population. Also the authorities deny the shortage of food or items of daily use that has been reported by the media (AI, 25 May 2005; Ahmad, 27 September 2004; South Asia Tribune, 26 September 2004; BBC, 24 September 2004; IRIN, 19 August 2004). Background of displacement in Pakistani-controlled Kashmir Pakistani-controlled Kashmir is divided into the Northern Areas with a population of 1.5 million under direct Pakistani administration, and in the south Azad Kashmir with a population of 2.8 million. The latter is often also referred to as Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK), and enjoys a certain level of autonomy, although it is still technically under Pakistani government control. Azad Kashmir is divided into seven districts, five of which are affected by shelling, in particular the Neelum Valley. Azad Kashmir is "overseen" by the Pakistani Ministry of Kashmiri Affairs, but has its own state council and a state president. The Northern Areas are divided into five administrative districts. The capital of the region, Skardu, is situated at 2,300 metres above sea level and most of the villages close to the Line of Control between Pakistan and India are situated at 3,000-4,000 metres, making access to the population affected by the conflict extremely difficult.(source: Knudsen 2002, p.34) The territorial dispute with India over Kashmir is the root cause of displacement 4

5 in Pakistani-controlled Kashmir. Pakistan did not recognise Kashmir's accession to India in 1947 and sticks by the 1948 UN decision that the mainly- Muslim Kashmiris themselves should be allowed to decide whether to opt for India, Pakistan or independence. This has been the cause for two wars, in and 1965, and a period of intensified fighting in In 1972, the Line of Control (LOC) was demarcated as an official ceasefire line. Since then, the two countries have mobilised for war on four occasions ( , 1990, 1999 and 2002). Each time war has been avoided after international diplomatic efforts. Despite repeated ceasefires, there have been regular exchanges of artillery fire across the LOC in recent years, which have been the main cause of displacement inside Azad Kashmir. This is in contrast to displacement on the Indian side of the LOC which is related to a more complex conflict pattern, involving internal insurgents as well as infiltration of militants from the Pakistani side. In addition to those internally displaced by the conflict, an unknown number of Kashmiris have since 1947 also fled from the Indian side of the LOC into areas controlled by Pakistan. By end-2002 it was reported that about 17,000 refugees were living in 17 camps in Azad and Jammu Kashmir (USCR 2003, "Pakistan"). A ceasefire which came into effect in November 2003 has eased tensions on both sides of the LOC, although there have been sporadic incidents of violence in Indian-controlled Kashmir since the conclusion of the agreement. Analysis of displacement in Kashmir is complicated both by the fact that the international border and the status of Kashmir have not been finally determined. In addition, independent observers are granted only restricted access to the area. Outside observers, however, commonly consider the LOC as a de facto international border and divide those displaced by the conflict into the following four categories: People are considered refugees after crossing the LOC onto the Pakistanicontrolled side, into Pakistan itself or seeking asylum abroad People are considered refugees after crossing the LOC onto the Indiancontrolled side, into other regions of India or seeking asylum abroad People fleeing their homes inside the Indian-controlled areas are regarded as internally displaced within Indianadministered Kashmir or other regions of India (see India Country Profile) People fleeing their homes on the Pakistani-controlled side of the LOC are regarded as internally displaced inside Pakistani-controlled Kashmir or inside Pakistan itself (i.e. the focus of this country profile). Thousands of internally displaced have returned In 1999 hundreds of people, both soldiers and civilians, died and over 40,000 people were displaced in Pakistani-controlled Kashmir in fighting during what became known as the Kargil crisis. This occurred when India responded with both artillery and aerial attacks after a large number of Pakistani-backed insurgents had intruded several kilometres inside the Kargil area 5

6 on the Indian side of the LOC (BBC, 15 June 1999; ICG, 4 December 2003). Following diplomatic efforts by the United States to quell the fighting, the majority of the displaced returned home by late 1999 (US DOS February 2001). However, by 2002, several thousand people had still not been able to return, as sporadic shelling continued together with a constant high level of violence and killings on both sides of the LOC. The terrorist attack on the Indian Parliament in December 2001 sparked off an intense artillery campaign by the Indian army across the LOC which created massive displacement in Pakistani-controlled Kashmir. In response to rebel attacks on the staff quarters of an Indian army camp on 14 May 2002, the Indian army further intensified shelling across the LOC. This time civilian villages were deliberately targeted (BBC, 27 May 2002; ICG, 11 July 2002; CWI, May 2002). While it is known that the number of internally displaced people increased sharply during 2002, information about the internally displaced in Pakistaniadministered Kashmir is incomplete, especially because of difficulties in accessing the conflict-affected areas due to administrative, security and climatic reasons. In Azad Kashmir, a special authorisation from the federal authorities in Islamabad is routinely granted to humanitarian organisations, but access prior to the current ceasefire was not allowed beyond 16 kilometres from the LOC. There is no formal problem of access to areas affected by displacement in the Northern Areas, but many remote places are unreachable most of the year due to heavy snowfalls and harsh climatic conditions. Existing estimates of the number of displaced due to the fighting vary. According to the Relief Commissionerate of the Pakistani- administered Kashmir go v- ernment, a total of 50,000 people were internally displaced. Some 25,000 people lived in relief camps for internally displaced while another 25,000 internally displaced were believed to live with their relatives elsewhere in Pakistan (IRIN, 3 February 2005). However, figures collected from other sources indicate that the total number of displaced might have been higher than 50,000. An assessment conducted by Islamic Relief revealed that the number of displaced only in Azad Kashmir amounted to about 45,000 people, while local authorities said an additional 2,000 people had been displaced since the 1990s and were unable to return due to the presence of landmines in their home villages. In the Northern Areas, Skardu and Ghanche were particularly affected by internal displacement with artillery shelling displacing an estimated 20,000 persons after the heating up of the conflict in May Hardest hit was the Gultari sector of Skardu district, which is situated opposite the Kargil region in Indian-controlled Kashmir, where an estimated 12,000 persons were displaced between May 2002 and June 2003 (IR, 12 June 2002). The ceasefire which was concluded in 2003 has encouraged thousands of displaced in Pakistani-controlled Kashmir to return to their homes, and according to local authorities only about 200 families remain in camps awaiting demining of their fields before they can return home (IRIN, 3 February 2005). 6

7 Apart from food security, material damage is one of the main difficulties meeting the returnees, especially in the Gultari area where many houses are damaged after years of absence. The Pakistani government will be responsible for providing longer-term assistance to the affected population (ICRC, 5 August 2004; July 2004). Displacement reported from Balochistan, Punjab and Sindh Unrest in Pakistan s south-western Balochistan province increased during the first months of Tension has been simmering for decades as tribal militants in the area have been demanding greater political autonomy and royalties from the resource-rich province. At the beginning of April 2005, clashes between government troops and tribal militants displaced about 6,000 people, including many go v- ernment officials, according to local news reports. The violence began when some 300 troops were surrounded by thousands of tribal militants in the town of Dera Bugti, located close to Pakistan s largest gas reserves. The Pakistani government has repeatedly stressed that it intends to solve the situation politically (COE- DMHA, 29 April 2005; IRIN, 21 March 2005, 7 February 2005). The Human Rights Commission of Pakistan says that tribal clashes between the Mazari and Bugti tribes, in areas along the Punjab-Balochistan border in the southern Punjab, and between the Almani and Mahar tribes in Ghotki in Sindh also led to the displacement of an undetermined number of families (HRCP, February 2005, pp ) National and international assistance Although entitled to a modest monthly cash assistance and provided with shortterm life-saving assistance by Pakistani authorities, longer-term humanitarian assistance to internally displaced in Pakistani-administered Kashmir has been insufficient and sporadic (USCR Pakistan). The responsibility for assisting internally displaced in Pakistani-administered Kashmir is delegated to the Relief Commissionerate of the Pakistaniadministered Kashmir government. During the conflict, it set up 15 camps in parts of Pakistani-administered Kashmir for 25,000 internally displaced. In its annual report for 2004, the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan criticised the living conditions in the IDP camps (IRIN 3 February 2005). The ICRC is one of the few international humanitarian organisations which has focused on the war-affected people in Kashmir with food and non- food item distribution, monitoring, shelter assistance, support during the return phase and promotion of permanent solutions. Between 2000 and 2003, ICRC provided assistance to five IDP camps housing 5,200 people (ICRC 2002, p.169; ICRC 2003, p.151; Exchange of information with ICRC, 2003, July 2004, June 2005). Islamic Relief has been working in the Neelum Valley since Its humanitarian assistance has included improvement of health care, livelihood projects, water and sanitation as well as strengthening the local capacity for first aid and evacua- 7

8 tion of civilians in times of intensified conflict (IR 2002, "Preparedness Project"). The International Rescue Committee has also worked with Islamic Relief in this area (IRC 2003). ICRC has also been actively involved in the return of the internally displaced population. Preparations for an assisted return started during the fall of 2003, when ICRC carried out assessment missions both in Azad Kashmir and in the Northern Areas. In Azad Kashmir, a large number of the displaced left the camps immediately following the ceasefire. In the Northern Areas, more than 3,100 people sheltering in the Ghanche and Skardu districts returned in April 2004, while another 4,500 sheltered in the Gultari sector said they would return to their villages during summer 2004 (Dawn, 10 April 2004). ICRC continued to advocate for an assisted return for those who had to remain in camps by undertaking assessments of their home villages, talking to local authorities and facilitate logistical arrangements. As of the end of 2004, ICRC had assisted approximately 4,600 persons, and of these some 3,200 persons received food and essential household items (Exchange of information with ICRC, July 2004, June 2005). Apart from the above-mentioned assistance activities for the displaced in Kashmir, the plight of the conflictaffected populations during the years of conflict has been largely ignored by the international aid community. Fewer than 50 military observers from the UN Military Observer Group in India and Pakistan (UNMOGIP) monitor the LOC. This UN presence, however, has not been accompanied by UN humanitarian assistance, neither in Pakistani- nor in Indiancontrolled areas (ICG, June 2004). As for South Waziristan, international aid agencies have expressed concern about the situation, but all requests to carry out independent assessments have been denied by the Pakistani authorities on security grounds (IRIN, 19 August 2004). UNHCR has made it clear that it is not willing to assist the internally displaced from South Waziristan, arguing that this falls under the responsibility of the Pakistani government (Daily Times, 19 August 2004). Both the Pakistani authorities and the international community should ensure that the returning population in Pakistanicontrolled Kashmir receive the assistance required to be able to restart their lives. In South Waziristan, Pakistani authorities should address the humanitarian situation, ensure that a survey is undertaken and that aid is provided for the conflictaffected population, including the internally displaced. Another worrying development is the rise of sectarian violence in Pakistan which has intensified since President Pervez Musharraf sided with the United States in the war against terrorism and could lead to further displacement in the country unless steps are taken to protect religious minorities from persecution. Attacks against the Shia minority by Sunni extremist groups have increased sharply, as have attacks against the Hindu, Christian and Ahmadi religious communities. Shia groups have also been responsible for several episodes of religiously motivated killings (ICG, 18 April 2005; AI, 25 May 2005). Within the first five months of 2005, 120 civilians lost their 8

9 lives, and 286 were injured in 30 inc i- dents of sectarian violence (Mir, in SAIR, 6 June 2005). Development-induced displacement Note: This is a summary of the Global IDP Project s country profile of the situation of internal displacement in Pakistan. The full country profile is available online here. Development induced displacement is on the rise in Pakistan, with several large dam projects in the pipeline. In Azad Kashmir, the raising of the height of the Mangla Dam may displace up to 44,000 people. The government says the affected population will be compensated by a package including building of new towns and cash assistance. Other forthcoming projects include the Chotiari Dam project in the Sanghar district of Sindh province and development projects in the Gwadar area which may displace 70,000 people. At the same time, the issue of compensation for those affected by previous development projects such as the building of the Mangla Dam nearly four decades ago, and the Tarbela Dam in the 1970s, remains unresolved. The Human Rights Commission of Pakistan has recommended that a survey should be launched to assess the precise numbers of those displaced by development schemes or natural disasters so that a strategy to rehabilitate them can be finalised, and that compensation must be adequate (HRCP, February 2005, pp ). 9

10 Sources: Agence France-Presse (AFP), 23 July 2004, "Humanitarian crisis looms as Afghan refugees flee Pakistan's Al-Qaeda hunt" Aljazeera, 21 March 2004, "Frustrated Pakistani army looks to negotiate" Amnesty International (AI), 12 July 2001, "Indo-Pakistan Summit: Plea to put human rights in Jammu and Kashmir firmly on the agenda" Amnesty International (AI), 25 May 2005, Annual Report-Pakistan Amnesty International (AI), April 2004, Human rights abuses in the search for al-qa'ida and Taleban in the tribal areas (AI INDEX: ASA 33/011/2004) Asia Times Online, 14 January 2003, A bloody destiny for South Waziristan BBC News, 16 June 1999, "Thousands displaced by Kashmir fighting" BBC News, 24 September 2004, "Pakistan army accused of abuses" BBC News, 25 November 2002, "How high are tensions now? " BBC News, 27 May 2002, "Pakistani villagers flee border area" BBC News, 4 January 2002, "Analysis: Contentious Line of Control" Center of Excellence in Disaster Management & Humanitarian Assistance (COE-DMHA), 13 July 2004, Clashes between security forces and suspected al-qaeda militants continue in semiautonomous tribal region of South Waziristan Center of Excellence in Disaster Management & Humanitarian Assistance (COE-DMHA), 29 April 2005, Clashes reported in tribal area of Pakistan s southwestern Balochistan province Committee for a Workers' International, 2002, Report On the 25th December "Anti-War" demo and 12th January Committee for a Workers' International, May 2002, "Asian sub-continent on the brink of catastrophe: An eyewitness account from a socialist in Pakistani Occupied Kashmir" Daily Times (Pakistan), 19 August 2004, "UNHCR declines to relieve dislocated Wazir tribesmen" Dawn, 10 April 2004, "Refugees returning to home in N. Areas" Dawn, 14 July 2004, "Tribal elders split over penalizing militants" Dawn, 21 July 2004, "Jets, gunships pound militants' positions: 'Several mountain posts secured'" Dawn, 22 September 2004, "Thousands displaced, civilians killed: Bar commission's report on 10

11 Wana action" Human Rights Commission of Pakistan, February 2005, State of Human Rights in Refugees Integrated Regional Information Networks (IRIN), 19 August 2004, PAKISTAN: Growing concern over humanitarian situation in tribal area Integrated Regional Information Networks (IRIN), 21 March 2005, "PAKISTAN: More violence in Balochistan" Integrated Regional Information Networks (IRIN), 3 February 2005, Pakistan: Solution needed for displaced in Pakistan-administered Kashmir Integrated Regional Information Networks (IRIN), 7 February 2005, "PAKISTAN: More antigovernment violence in Balochistan" Integrated Regional Information Networks (IRIN), 8 September 2004, "AFGHANISTAN- PAKISTAN: Displaced in Wana say they are receiving little support" International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), 2002, Annual Report 2001 (pp ) International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), 2003, Annual Report 2002, Pakistan International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), 5 August 2004, Pakistan: helping villagers go home International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), 5 December 2002, Pakistan: Aid for displaced families in Northern Areas (ICRC News 02/49) International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), 9 June 2005, Exchange of Information with ICRC International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), December 2003, Exchange of information with ICRC International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), July 2004, Exchange of information with ICRC International Crisis Group (ICG), 11 July 2002, Kashmir: Confrontation and Miscalculation International Crisis Group (ICG), 24 June 2004, India/Pakistan Relations and Kashmir: Steps Towards Peace International Crisis Group (ICG), 4 December 2003, Kashmir: learning from the past, Asia Paper no. 70 International Rescue Committee (IRC), 15 April 2003, Pakistan Program Annual Report 2002 International Rescue Committee (IRC), 31 January 2003, "IRC Extends Emergency Aid to Displaced Families in Kashmir" 11

12 Islamic Relief (IR), 12 June 2002, Initial Need Assessment & Disaster Preparedness Plan for AJK (For LoC Emergency) Islamic Relief (IR), 2002, "Neelum Valley Disaster Preparedness Project (NVDPP)" Islamic Relief (IR), 2002, "Refugees" ISN Security Watch, 27 September 2004, Pakistani humanitarian disaster to trigger chaos, by Naveed Ahmad Knudsen, Are, 2002, Political Islam in South Asia, CMI Report R2002:14 Mir, Amir, 2 May 2005, War and Peace in Waziristan, in South Asia Intelligence Review, Volume 3, No. 42, Mir, Amir, 6 June 2005, Pakistan: Sectarian Monster, in South Asia Intelligence Review, vol. 3, no.47 New York Times, 21 July 2004, "Pakistan Army Ousts Afghan Refugees in Militants' Area" One World South Asia, 26 March 2004, "Media Blackout in Pakistan's Tribal Areas Triggers Outrage" Pakistan Census Organization (at Geo Hive Global Statistics page), July 2001, Pakistan Rediff.Com, 7 April 2004, Pakistan's Wild West Frontier South Asia Tribune, 26 September 2004, "Is the Pakistan Army Using Chemical Weapons in Wana Operation" The News, 10 July 2004, "Partial ban lifting has little impact on tribesmen s lives" The News, 10 November 2004, "Six militants, three soldiers killed in S Waziristan" The News, 27 October 2004, "15 tribal elders die in S Waziristan attack" The News, 30 March 2004, "Displaced families return home" U.S. Committee for Refugees (USCR), 2003, World Refugee Survey 2003: Pakistan U.S. Department of State (U.S. DOS), February 2001, 2000 Country Reports on Human Rights Practices Note: All documents used in this profile summary are directly accessible on the Pakistan List of Sources page of our website. 12

13 About the Global IDP Project The Global IDP Project, established by the Norwegian Refugee Council in 1996, is the leading international body monitoring internal displacement worldwide. Through its work, the Geneva-based Project contributes to protecting and assisting the 25 million people around the globe, who have been displaced within their own country as a result of conflicts or human rights violations. At the request of the United Nations, the Global IDP Project runs an online database providing comprehensive and frequently updated information and analysis on internal displacement in some 50 countries. It also carries out training activities to enhance the capacity of local actors to respond to the needs of internally displaced people. In addition, the Project actively advocates for durable solutions to the plight of the internally displaced in line with international standards. For more information, visit the Global IDP Project website and the database at Media contact: Jens-Hagen Eschenbächer Database / Communication Coordinator Tel.: +41 (0) jens.eschenbaecher@nrc.ch Global IDP Project Norwegian Refugee Council Chemin de Balexert Geneva, Switzerland Tel: Fax: