Kabul says evolving effective policy for return of Afghan refugees

Islamabad

Even though the security situation inside Afghanistan is dismal and certainly not an attractive option for the return of thousands of Afghan refugees still inside Pakistan, Kabul says that it was evolving an “effective policy” for the return of these refugees. 

Several deadlines for the return of these refugees have elapsed, with international pressure seeing Islamabad extending their stay.

President Ashraf Ghani has talked often about the lack of a “pull factor” to encourage the return of these refugees which are openly a “burden” on Pakistan’s fragile economy as well as creating a security situation where terrorists crossing over find safety inside refugee camps.

“The refugees and the internally displaced persons (IDPs) will not believe that they can make their homeland home unless they feel that the state is an agent of a compact with its people,” Ghani had commented earlier.

Pakistan is eager for a phased repatriation of over two million Afghan refugees over the next two years, making them the largest number of refugees worldwide.

The issue of the return of these refugees came up during discussions between the visiting Afghan Minister for Refugees and Repatriation Sayed Hussain Alemi Balkhi and Adviser on Foreign Affairs Sartaj Aziz at the Foreign Office.

The spokesman at the Foreign Office in a statement said that Pakistan once again “emphasised the need of effective steps for achieving this objective”.  Both countries not only pointed to an early but “dignified repatriation of these Afghan refugees”.

The two sides discussed matters related to early and dignified repatriation of Afghan refugees to their homeland through mutual cooperation as well as engagement with the international community. The adviser emphasised the need of effective steps for achieving this objective.

The Afghan minister expressed profound gratitude and appreciation for Pakistan in hosting millions of Afghan refugees for more than three decades. He apprised the Pakistan side that Afghan government was evolving an effective policy for early repatriation and sustainable resettlement of Afghan refugees in Afghanistan.