Many undocumented Afghan refugees behind kidnappings, terrorism: Imran

ISLAMABAD: PTI Chairman Imran Khan has said hostility towards the Afghan refugees within the host population has grown because authorities have found undocumented Afghans behind incidents of kidnappings for ransom and terrorism, particularly in Peshawar.

“The problem is that the locals complain about the crime, which is coming in from the refugee camps. Most of the people who are picked up, who are kidnapped for ransom in Peshawar, the calls for ransom come from Afghanistan. The people are picked up, taken to Afghanistan and the [phone] calls come from there,” Khan told the Voice of America.

“What we need is the help from seniors of the Afghan refugees who then cooperate with the police, which is what I have been trying to do, so that these criminals are isolated from the bulk of refugees,” he added.

Authorities in a Pakistani border province say steps are being taken to prevent the police harassment of Afghan refugees, but those with no legal status will be arrested and deported. Pressure has grown — particularly from the host communities — calling for authorities to send the Afghans to their home country, citing economic and security concerns. Recent political tensions between Pakistan and Afghanistan have added to the challenges for one of the largest and most protracted refugee situations in the world, according to the United Nations. But Imran said efforts are being made to ensure a “comfortable” stay for Afghans legally.

He said he has met with and organised meetings between the Afghan ambassador to Pakistan Hazrat Omer Zakhilwal and the provincial government and police chiefs to look into the problems, including allegations of police harassment and extortion. “There is no doubt that these are people living in desperate situations and they are not there out of their own will. It is because of the situation in Afghanistan and it is our duty to ensure that they live as comfortably as we can make them live,” said Imran.

Local and UN refugee officials estimate there are three million Afghan refugees residing in Pakistan, including an estimated one million undocumented Afghans. Most refugee families have been living in exile for nearly four decades, after fleeing conflicts and persecution in their homeland. KP, hosts most of the refugees, despite being the smallest of all the four Pakistani provinces. Pakistani authorities blame the violence on militant groups operating out of volatile Afghan border regions, including fugitives linked to the extremistPakistani Taliban who are sheltering there. They also allege Afghan authorities are not doing enough to counter the illegal cross-border movement.

Afghan ambassador Zakhilwal has acknowledged efforts Pakistani authorities have been making to ease refugees’ concerns. “Yes, the situation has improved since my meetings with Imran Khan and subsequent to that with [provincial chief minister] Parvez Khattak and the KP police chief,” he told VOA.

Pakistan last month granted a six-month extension to registered Afghan refugees to legally stay in the country, urging the Kabul government and international community to step up efforts for a lasting solution to the refugee crisis. The repatriation process, however, has significantly slowed down in recent months because of the rise in Taliban-led violence and economic deterioration in Afghanistan. Only about 6,000 refugees have returned home, compared with nearly 60,000 in 2015, prompting the UN refugee agency to double financial grants from $200 to $400 per person for the registered families opting to go back to Afghanistan.