Hanafi to Pakistan: Rethink decision on refugee eviction

KABUL (Pajhwok): Deputy Prime Minister for Administrative Affairs Maulvi Abdul Salam Hanafi wants Pakistan to create facilities for Afghan refugees in Torkham and Spin Boldak.

At a meeting with the acting Pakistan ambassador, he said the refugees should be treated in line with Islamic brotherhood and good neighbourliness.

The Presidential Palace wrote on its X handle that the deputy prime minister met Ambassador Ubaid-ur-Rehman Nizamani on Friday.

Hanafi called Afghanistan and Pakistan neighbouring and Muslim countries, saying good relations between them were in the interest of both.

He added IEA had no bad intention towards any neighboring country and wanted cooperative ties with all countries based on mutual interaction.

He asked Pakistan to reconsider its decision to evict Afghan refugees because such decisions had a negative impact on public opinion and alienated the two nations.

Facilities should be provided for Afghans in Torkham and Spin Boldak and they should be treated on the basis of Islamic brotherhood and good neighbourliness.

Afghan children, women and other innocent individuals arrested in Pakistan should be released forthwith, Hanafi demanded.

For his part, Nizamani said: "We want to help improve the overall situation in Afghanistan and positive and good dynamics in the economic, political and commercial fields in this country."

He expressed his grief over the casualties caused by the recent earthquakes in western Herat province and offered condolences. He will convey the demands of IEA to officials in Islamabad.

He said Pakistan was trying to resolve the issues that widened the gap between the two countries through understanding.

kk/mud