Islamabad, Oct 3 (Xinhua) Pakistan has asked Afghan refugees staying in a tribal region of the country’s northwest to leave in three days, the News Network International (NNI) news agency reported Friday.

The refugees were asked to leave Bajaur region bordering Afghanistan but the authorities did not give any reason for the order, said the report.

Security forces have been fighting militants in Bajaur and the authorities believe that elements among the Afghan refugees are supporting the militants, according to NNI.

Pakistan has already closed down all refugees camp in Bajaur but thousands of refugees are still living in rented houses.

An order signed by deputy chief of the local administration Haseeb said that action would be taken against the Afghan refugees if they failed to leave the area by the deadline.

The order also asked the local tribesmen to vacate houses and shops given to the Afghan refugees on rent.

The NNI quoted locals as saying that Afghan refugees had started leaving Khar in central Bajaur following the order.

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