Refugees issue in Pakistan to be discussed at Geneva meeting

KABUL (Pajhwok): The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) has asked Pakistani authorities to treat Afghan refugees as per international principles and laws.

The Afghanistan Ministry of Refugees and Repatriation wrote on its X page that a meeting was held with UNHCR officials including deputy head of operations Subir Ibrahim Mohammad and international relations director Swarlit Bruin on assisting returning Afghan refugees.

Ministry of Refugees and Repatriation office head Qari Mohammad Ajmal Weyar on the occasion said the meeting was aimed at preparing a mechanism for the returnees.

He said the ministry needed UNHCR’s cooperation to reach out to thousands of families who had returned or about to return.

Ibrahim told the meeting that UNHCR officials in Pakistan were holding regular meetings with authorities there about the repatriation of Afghan refugees and had asked them to help the Afghan refugees and treat them in the light of international principles and laws and avoid their deportation.

He revealed the issue of Afghan refugees would be discussed in the meeting of the special committee in Geneva to find diplomatic solutions.

He assured that UNHCR offices in provinces had scaled up their activities and were ready to cooperate with the government.

He said they were working on an emergency plan to provide cash, food and non-food aid to the returnees.

Pakistan has asked illegal Afghan refugees to return to their country by November 1 or face detention and deportation.

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