JI opposes ‘hasty’ expulsion of Afghan refugees

Demands bilateral Pakistan-Afghanistan mechanism on issue

PESHAWAR:

Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) Amir Sirajul Haq has said that Pakistan and Afghanistan have a common culture and religion and the decision to expel undocumented Afghan nationals in haste would create problems for both countries.

He said that both the neighbouring countries should sit together and chalk out a proper plan for the resettlement of the refugees.

“Other countries are opening their embassies in Afghanistan and Pakistan should also not create differences with Kabul,” he said, adding that the Jamaat-e-Islami would defend the Afghans.

Sirajul Haq was addressing the Afghan Committee of the party at the Markaze-e-Islami, Peshawar.

The meeting of the committee was presided over by Committee President Shabir Ahmad Khan. Other members of the committee also attended the meeting.

The committee discussed in depth the situation created after the government announcement to launch a crackdown against the undocumented and illegal Afghan nationals across the country.

“For half a century, the people of Pakistan have supported Afghan nationals and paid a high price for it. We now expect the Afghan government to cooperate with Pakistan on the matter of terrorism,” said Siraj, adding that some ‘secular’ elements were creating differences between the two brotherly countries.

“The people of Pakistan should rise against such designs of the secular elements. We demand that both countries finalize a strategy for the repatriation of Afghan refugees by October 31,” he said.

 

Published in The Express Tribune, October 8^th, 2023.