‘Return to Afghanistan should be voluntary, respectful’

KABUL (Pajhwok): The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) has said the return of Afghan refugees from neighboring countries should be voluntary and respectful, pledging support in this regard.

The UN agency has said it is ready to support Afghan refugees living in neighboring countries and the internally displaced people (IDP).

A statement from the Afghanistan Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA) on Wednesday said Acting Foreign Minister Salahuddin Rabbani met with UNHCR commissioner Filippo Grandi in Kabul.

Grandi appreciated reduced pressure on Afghan refugees in Iran and Pakistan and showed UNHCR’s readiness to support voluntary and respectful return of the refugees to their country.

He said it was due to the efforts of the Afghan Ministry of Foreign Affairs that Afghan refugees were registered and distributed passports in Iran.

For his part Rabbani said most of the Afghan refugees lived in Iran and Pakistan and their return to the homeland should be voluntary and respectful considering the situation in Afghanistan.

Rabbani termed the UNHCR commissioner’s trip to Afghanistan as important and sought the organization’s further support for Afghan refugees in regional countries and Afghan IDPs.

The statement said both the sides discussed Geneva international conference on Afghanistan, future activities of UNHCR in Afghanistan and emergency humanitarian assistance.

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