LANDI KOTAL, June 28: The Fata authorities have begun preparing themselves for the repatriation of more than 17,000 families displaced from Tirah valley in Khyber Agency.

According to the relevant officials, the Fata (law and order) secretary has issued written orders of de-notification of Bagh Maidan area, while the Fata Disaster Management Authority has been told to make a plan for the return of the displaced families from the area.

They told Dawn on Friday that around 17,140 families from Malikdinkhel, Bar Qambarkhel, Shalobar, Adamkhel and Zakhakhel tribes fled homes after the Taliban took control of Bagh Maidan on March 18.

The officials said of the total displaced families, 10,010 were provided shelter at the New Durrani camp near Sadda in Kurram Agency and 86 at Jalozai camp near Nowshera, while around 1,000 opted to stay with families in Kurram Agency and the rest went to Orakzai Agent, Hangu, Kohat and Peshawar.

The army began an operation in early April and it was exactly three months after the Taliban seized the area that on June 18, the army took control of the historic Bagh Markaz, a grand mosque used by local population as a community centre as well.

A local peace committee comprising Malikdinkhel, Shalobar and Bar Qambarkhel volunteers also cooperated with security forces in expelling the Taliban from their region.

“The Taliban are now holed up only in Ziyarath Morcha near Dwa Thoe, Sarrhokha, Mai Darra and Tanday Khula near Bagh, while the rest of the area is cleared of them,” local resident Ali Akbar said.

He said nearly 80 per cent of the area was in control of security forces and the local peace committee, while most of the Taliban had fled to Morga Top in Afghanistan.

Officials at FDMA told Dawn that a meeting of the Return Task Force was held in Peshawar on Friday to explore possibilities for a safe return of all IDPs to Tirah in light of the de-notification of Bagh Maidan by the Fata (law and order) secretary.

Besides the UNHCR and FDMA officials, the meeting was also attended by representatives of Unicef, World Food Programme, World Health Organisation, Provincial Disaster Management Authority, Food and Agriculture Clusters, 11 Corps and Frontier Corps.

The participants decided that a UN Intra-Cluster and security mission would visit the de-notified areas of Tirah next week and would assess the situation on ground and that the Khyber Agency political administration would facilitate the visit.

“As soon as we receive a go-ahead from the UN mission, we will immediately begin repatriation of all 17,140 families,” a FDMA official said, adding that the authority had made all necessary preparations for the speedy and safe return of Tirah IDPs.Ali Akbar, a resident of Warsak village near Bagh Maidan, said a leader of the local peace committee had sent the local residents a message to get ready for returning home next week.

“Commander of Malikdinkhel peace committee Sirajuddin has sent messages to most displaced families to pack their belongings and get ready for return to their respective areas,” he said.

Ali Akbar, who is living in the suburbs of Peshawar along with extended family, was visibly overjoyed by the news of his return to Tirah.

“Most of the Tirah residents are not accustomed to the sweltering heat of Peshawar and therefore, it will be a huge relief for us all to go back to the cool environment of Tirah valley,” he said.

Ali Akbar said most of the Taliban along with their families have begun vacating Kukikhel area they had occupied in May last year.

In last week of May this year, forces claimed to have occupied the strategically located Dray Stanay and Kala Ouch hilltops overlooking most of the Kukikhel area.

“It is due to the fear of the armed forces occupying the surrounding hilltops that the Taliban have began vacating the Kukikhel area,” he said.