Several thousand exiled Afghans left the northwestern Pakistan city of Peshawar in two large convoys bound for eastern Afghanistan. The exiles, all members of Afghanistan's dominant Pashtun community, were led by Haji Mohammad Zaman Ghamshareek, a former Mujaheedin commander during the 1979-89 Afghan war against Soviet occupation.
The convoys were headed for the Afghan city of Jalalabad, which fell into the hands of maverick Pashtun warlord Younis Khalis on Tuesday following the withdrawal of Taliban forces.
Commander Zaman said the situation around Jalalabad remained fluid and his men--unarmed when they boarded the convoy -- could be used to help secure the area. According to some sources there are some Arabs hiding in the area surrounding Jalalabad, Zaman said.
This is our right to go to our country and the Pakistani authorities should allow us. I am under an obligation to go, whatever the situation is, He added.
The Pakistani border with Afghanistan was officially closed days after the September 11 terrorist attack on the United States and the authorities have said anyone trying to cross without valid papers would be turned back.
Bureau Report