Experts call for repatriation of illegal Afghan migrants

Islamabad:Participants of a roundtable discussion called for the repatriation of illegal Afghan immigrants in Pakistan back to their home country.

The discussion was organised Institute of Regional Studies (IRS) here on Thursday. The speakers included Salman Javed, Director General of the Pak-Afghan Youth Forum, senior journalist Sumaira Khan, Sibah Farooq, expert on international humanitarian and human rights law, Asma Mushtaq, advocate, Supreme Court, and Nadeem Riyaz, President, IRS.

They were of the view that even though the current drive of repatriation of undocumented Afghans residing illegally in Pakistan also had to do with the dip in the diplomatic relations between the two neighbouring countries, Pakistan as a sovereign country had the right to regulate the presence of illegal aliens on its soil.

The participants urged the Government of Pakistan to take care of the humanitarian needs of the repatriating illegal migrants and provide them with all necessary support. They urged the concerned authorities to also protect the registered Afghan refugees and Afghan Citizen Card (ACC) holders in Pakistan against harassment by law enforcement agencies.

The speakers expressed their concern and disappointment over the continued hostility in Afghanistan against Pakistan. They emphasised that Pakistan hosted the Afghan refugees for a protracted duration and had provided them with all the possible facilities including access to shelter, healthcare, education, as well as earning respectable livelihoods.

The participants of the discussion asked the international community to assist Pakistan in supporting the existing Afghan refugees on its soil and to expedite the resettlement applications of the potential aspirants. They also urged improvement in the legal framework governing refugees and aliens in the country to provide an improved system for administration of aliens and protection of refugees.