KABUL Prime Minister Imran Khan said Monday that his country extended the best-ever support to the Afghan peace process.
“We need peace in Afghanistan for development and prosperity of internally displaced people,” the premier stressed, stating that development could only be possible through trade and friendly relations, which will also help both the countries improve their relations with other central Asian states.
He was speaking at a two-day refugee summit in Islamabad on 40 years of hosting Afghan refugees in Pakistan.
“I say it with pride that my country has hosted millions of refugees,” PM Imran said adding that despite economic challenges, Pakistan has kept good relations with Afghan refugees.
He further said political leaders used refugees’ crisis for personal gain to bag votes and spread hate.
Imran stated that following the September 11 terrorist attack, Islamophobia compounded to the miseries of the refugees.
Speaking at the conference, Foreign Minister Shah MahmoodQureshi said Pakistan was pursuing a policy of return of Afghan refugees with dignity, safety and honor.
The minister said peace and stability is indispensable and Pakistan would continue supporting an Afghan-owned and Afghan-led peace process. “Every refugee is hoping that peace restores leading to repatriation,” he said.
“Pakistan has hosted five million Afghan refugees and today three million registered and unregistered Afghan refugees reside in Pakistan,” he said adding that the Pak-Afghan relations have provided impetus to host millions of Afghan refugees.
He further urged the world to join hands with Pakistan to provide basic needs to the Afghan refugees and enable them to live a dignified life, underscoring the need for international cooperation more than ever before.
“Caring should be a shared responsibility more so when the Afghan refugees expect the world to rebuild their country after restoration of peace,” he stated.
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