Reports of Afghan refugees’ expulsion from Pakistan shunned
Afghan refugee Nazo Khyber, 8, holds her brother Bilal, 1, while walking back to her home in a slum area on the outskirts of Islamabad, Pakistan, Friday, July 20, 2012. -AP Photo
ISLAMABAD: Members of parliament and United Nation Human Rights Commission for Refugees (UNHCR) denied the media reports regarding 1.7 million Afghan refugees would be expelled from Pakistan by end of this year.
Talking to Voice of America (VOA), Spokesman for the UNHCR Aslam Khan while terming these reports baseless said, Pakistan had no intention to oust the Afghan refugees living in Pakistan by end of 2012.
He said Pakistan was bound to fulfill its obligation, adding that the Afghan refugees possessing registration cards would not be displaced by force until they were ready to go back to Afghanistan voluntarily.
He said war torn country of Afghanistan was not in a position to afford the burden of 1.7 million Afghan refugees at this stage.
Federal Minister for States and Frontier Region, Engineer Shaukatullah also said that all registered and non-registered Afghan refugees, willing to go back to their homes voluntarily, would be repatriated by end of this year.
He said, “All registered Afghan refugees who are voluntarily desirous will be allowed to go back to their homes in Afghanistan.”
Senior leader of ANP Senator Afrasiyab Khan Khattakhas said, Afghan refugees are undoubtedly a burden on Pakistan in view of the present economic situation, but these people are living in Pakistan due to their certain compulsions, therefore, he will not support their forced expulsion from the country.
He warned that forced expulsion of Afghan refugees may affect bilateral relations of both the countries.
He said both the governments of Pakistan and Afghanistan should evolve a joint strategy for the return of Afghan refugees so that the return of refugees may be sustainable.
Spokesman UNHCR in Pakistan, Dunya Aslam Khan, sharing her views said return of Afghan refugees should be volunteered.
She said those refugees may be expelled from Pakistan who were living illegally here.
She said after media reports, UNHCR contacted government officials to verify these reports.
She said Pakistan made a commitment to the UNHCR Country Director that no recognized Afghan refugee will be deported from Pakistan.
According to Pakistani officials, about one million Afghans are living in KPK without valid documents.
Currently, at least one million non-registered Afghan refugees presently living in Pakistan are reported to be sent back by force.
UNHCR officials said that non-registered Afghan refugees should, therefore, register themselves before being repatriated to Afghanistan.
Afghan refugee will never go voluntarily.,when this Afghani first time came to pakistan they kiss the earth..and remarked that even sand is gold in pakistan…..this was initiated by zia ul haq , JUI and JI….and have introduced gun culture ,drug in pakistan
they should go back now, i dont see how our nation can support them any more we are too poor now. with a hostile afghan govt why should we oblige them at every turn???
Doesn't seem like these 'refugees' are ever leaving this country. They have been here for too long, married in local communities, children of these Afghans are born here – its much more complex now. The sad part is they have taken small businesses and jobs belonging to Pakistanis and study in our institutes, then go abroad and spit on Pakistan.
They should be honourably repatriated to their country. the sooner, the better for us. Those concerned about their wellbeing should let them in to their own countries. If we want to get rid of the numerous crises that we are facing, terrorism being the top one, I think we must not allow them a single more day's overstay in our country.
Seriously, afghan refugees are creating huge problems in Pakistan. In a country where population is growing very fast and the economy is declining , where it has become almost impossible for the government to provide basic needs of life to the country people and in such circumstances to support Afghan refugees is silly. Afghanistan has to take the responsibility of their people. It won't be a problem for them to support with massive foreign aid and investments coming in their country.
Afghan refugees have become a burden on Pakistan. They allegedly indulge in illegal activities. If they are allowed to stay then they should be registered and properly documented..
What a pathetic attitude, how long they will be refugee here, they were allowed about two million and have by now swelled to over twenty million, usurping agricultural lands in KPK and Punjab, using roads for their buses and trucks in Pakistan without registeration and paying taxes, a huge drain on the resources of this poor nation, bringing in narcotics proceeds and buying properties with the connivance of dishonest revenue people. How long you want to punish Pakistan for others faults!
@muhammed agree , they brought drug culture, klashnikov and crime to our country , this was initiated by amir ul momeneen general zia ul haq and his dream of a greater Pakistan.
I don't know what bilateral relation are we talking about here they call us enimise they don't want nothing to do with us
They didn't give us single contract in their country,they are responseable for unrest in our country.