The SAFRON minister requested international humanitarian organisations to assist in ensuring timely and safe return of Afghan refugees to their home country. PHOTO: FILE
Pakistan cannot afford to host Afghan refugees any longer and has spent more than $200 billion in the last 30 years on them, said Minister for States and Frontier Regions Abdul Qadir Baloch.
Baloch said international humanitarian organisations should assist in providing protection and ensure the timely and safe return of refugees to their home country.
Addressing a press conference in Peshawar on Friday, he said initially Pakistan was hosting five million refugees and even today there are more than three million registered and unregistered refugees in the country, most of whom are living in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P).
The minister further mentioned the government’s two-year extension to refugees on the request of UNHCR, the United Nation’s Refugee Agency.
Baloch said the government will continue to provide protection to Afghans in Pakistan, but “the government of Afghanistan must improve the conditions of its country so refugees can start repatriating. They can only return if there is durable peace in Afghanistan,” Baloch said.
He also directed law enforcement agencies to not arrest or harass Afghans as long as they possess their old registration cards, since the new cards may take two months to be issued. Baloch said he would order action against any police official found harassing refugees without a reason.
“Refugees often get involved in different types of crime as they are legally not allowed to work in Pakistan. This also worsens law and order problems for the country.” he said.
Baloch said the Refugees Affected and Hosting Areas programme has been initiated by the government. “Donors have pledged $600 million for the project, but so far only $15 million has been given.”
The minister said various development projects, including the supply of clean drinking water, construction of educational institutions, hospitals and parks, would also be initiated in areas where refugees have lived and are still living.
Published in The Express Tribune, October 26th, 2013.
COMMENTS (57)
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@bakhtiyay ghazi khan: in 1920's before the creation of pakistan, millions of muslims of indo pak started migrating towards afghanistan due to some political reasons but afghans do not accept them and pulled them back, why they have done this. only they are our brothers we are not their brothers. more over pashtuns in pakistan population are nearly 15-17% remaining population {above 80% is non pushtun}. And afghanistan is the country which do not accept pakistan at the time of its creation in 1947 in UN.moreover pakistani pashtun don'taccept afghans refugees on their land anymore as they are the burden on kpk govt. and people. Pakistan pushtoon do not posseses good opinion about afghan pushtun as they have grabed their land,bussiness and sources of income. A large majority of these refugees are involved in criminal activities.Every body knows what philOsophy is involved behind greater pukhtoonistan just to split pakistan they are as against the state of pakistan as india.
@listen here: Yet you support all the foreign forces in Afghanistan, and for 12 years they are butchering, raping, and torturing Afghans throughout Afghanistan. Realize this, Afghanistan is nothing without the support of the Muslims of the world. Every time a foreign nation invaded Afghanistan, whether Sikhs, British, Russians, and now Americans, Pakistani people have been the first and only major support for Afghanistan. There is no inherent strength in any human being, but only in unity of Muslims and the blessing of Allah swt.
Also, 75% of the world's Pukhtoons are in Pakistan. We have every right to protect and care for our brothers in Afghanistan. We don't need US, Indian, Israeli permission for that. You can't separate Pakistan and Afghanistan, that bond is in blood and faith.
This man has emperial dreams for the graveyard of empires in a nation dependant on the IMF for survival. I will tell you this my friend. You know very little about Afghan nationalism and I will be the first to die if a single Punjabi steps foot in my beloved country.
@Bakhtiyar Ghazi Khan: The topic is Pakistan, and why others are interested in how Pakistan governs itself. The topic is not American, Indian, Hindu, Jew, Pukhtoon, Russia, People from Mars living on Pluto, etc.... If you have a comment/view, please express yourself. Stay on the topic, and make cogent arguments.
@American: You are an Indian Hindu, stop commenting here as an "American."
@listen here: Don't live in jahiliyyah. I can't confirm what you are, nor do I care. Muslims are brothers, and every single Muslim kingdom or empire which came from Afghanistan, Pakistan, Arabia, Iran, or Turkestan enjoyed the support and legitimacy of Muslims to survive. 75% of the world's Pukhtoons live in Pakistan, and we too enjoy the support and legitimacy to protect our brothers in Afghanistan like we did during Soviet invasion, Northern Alliance, and US invasion. If you are a real Pukhtoon and Muslim, then don't become a puppet of foreigners and non-Muslims, like Indians. It is my firm belief that Afghanistan and Pakistan are actually one nation, and the future union is inevitable.
@Bakhtiyar Ghazi Khan:
I am an Afghan Pashtun and you and your kind dont speak for me. You dont decide our fate or decide a Taliban government is what suits us best. We were your conquerers not the other way around. Dont forget your history.
@Bakhtiyar Ghazi Khan: It is everybody's business how Pakistanis choose to govern themselves...because you have become the epicenter of Global Terrorism and, after Pakistan falls, it becomes a bigger headache for all neighboring countries. India and Iran have built fences and walls. Afghanistan wants to. Everyone will stop worrying about Pakistan when Pakistan learns to stop interfering in neighboring countries, eliminates terrorists, and focuses on education, jobs and economy.
@objective observer: It is no business of an enemy nation like India how Pakistanis choose to govern themselves. TTP is not related to Afghan Taliban, so no use conflating the two terms.
Why don't Pakistani Pukhtoons have a right to make a suitable environment for their blood brothers in Afghanistan? We are related by blood and bonds of religion which are stronger than any on Earth. Pakistan is the big brother of all Pukhtoons of Afghanistan, and the sole protector and guarantor of their rights. No other nation in the region has stood up for Pukhtoon rights in Afghanistan except Pakistan.
Face it, India's policies in Afghanistan have always been anti-Pukhtoon and geared toward the marginalization and oppression of Pukhtoons in Afghanistan. For 12 years, Pukhtoons have been excluded and terrorized by the Karzai Afghan government under foreign forces. Your racist and ethnic divisive rhetoric is not welcome either in Pakistan or Afghanistan.
@Bakhtiyar Ghazi Khan:
If they are so great why dont you let the Taliban govern Pakistan? You definetely dont have a right to decide Afghanistans fate and are deeply mistaken if you think you can. Please dont lecture me on Pakistans interests. I am now fully of the impression that Pakistan is incapable of a correct analysis of its interests.
@NYC: Honestly, we believe every word of what you say. In fact to support your statement I will go a little bit further. Instead of just saying that yours is the country with most refugees in the world, I would say the whole of your country is nothing but a nation of refugees. What else can you call a nation that was carved out of its parent and whose leaders at the drop of a hat present their kashkols across the world. After all old habits die hard. Certainly one so old and acquired across generations.
@Talha Rizvi
Very well said. The trolls you've mentioned are all Indians. Some of the them are most likely to be professional bloggers, paid for by the Indian agencies.
You've failed to mentioned Waterbottle and gp65 among others who are somehow now here today or must be blogging under other names.
The interest of the Indianstowards the Pakistani news sites is phenominal. Who has got time to spend hours, scanning every news item for hours each and relentlessly post comments unless and until you are a professional.
@ET Moderators: What's wrong with you guys? Why do you have to post such hateful messages against Pakistan in such overwhelming numbers? Please publish these comments.
@objective observer: Since when does taking refugees increase income and result in an economic boom? Have you been to Peshawar, Quetta, and other bordering cities? What is the result of Afghani immigration but adverse effects on the local population?
Also, we have every right to discuss Afghanistan's problems as it effects Pakistan directly. Furthermore, Pukhtoons of Afghanistan are our blood brothers related to us by race, so we have much more in common than you would want to admit.
The 12 year power vacuum in Afghanistan has resulted nothing but an absolute nightmare for Afghanistan's population, esp its Pukhtoon population which is facing ethnic cleansing by foreign powers and their puppets. A secure, stable, peaceful, and representative Afghanistan is in the interest of Pakistan as it is Pakistan's permanent backyard. India has done nothing but create problems for Afghans and Pakistanis since the US invited them there.
Actually, the figure should be 200 trillion dollars that Pakistan has spent on the Afghan refugees.
I wonder, based on the way the estimate these figures. It seems they are very good at putting a figure on what may have been. How much money do they think the ISI may have cost the country? Or do they blame all that on Afghan refugee's too?
All the indians squealing on this article should realize that Pakistan is the country with the MOST refugees in the world. Dont believe me ? Well then look it up. Seriously my indian "friends" research and be more informed next time you comment and try to offend. LOL
$200B or rupees or afghanis! Even Pakistan's total budget is unlikely to be that amount for 30 years!
All he can do is complain about the dwindling Afghan refugee's that provided an economic boom in Peshawar as a scape goat. How about you stop supporting merciless violent killers attacking their country? I bet they would go home.
It's funny, you want to keep them in a continued state of senseless violence and then call them a burden? What does that make you? Who's the burden here? Not only that, who ever gave you the right to rule Pashtuns? Some British colonist?
@Talha Rizvi: Fantastic response. Agree with you 100%
@Arijit Sharma: @Raj Kafir: @Gaurav: @Californian Desi: @Pradhan: @Aakashvaani: @Armaan: @Mastishhk: @objective observer: @Hesitantbeliever: Dear Indian trolls since you are clearly more concerned with Pakistan then Pakistanis how about taking this burden to your country. If according to you we have earned money from them so why don't you take them as a stable source of income. They have caused Innumerable damages to our country yet you have the audacity to come here and troll. Take these ingrates to your country and see the harm they do you guys. @ M.Emad: Let me tell you clearly what you are. You are a bitter old man whose hatred of Pakistan has clearly made you unbalanced. The depths of your sick mentality and the sheer drivel that you post against Pakistan in a Pakistani News site! For the gratification of your Indian masters is sickening to say the least. How about taking the millions of illegal Bangladeshis living in our country? We will gladly take the stranded Pakistanis but not the Rohingyas they were expelled from Burma for being illegal Bangladeshis take them in or send them to your master India but any way stay away from this site. @ American: You are clearly an Indian troll. Why hide behind a false identity? @ Afghanistan @ Voice of Afghanistan: How about taking your citizens back. All they have done is harm. How about taking them in and sealing the border for ever this will stop all our troubles. In Karachi where I live the Afghanis are involved in any thing from extortion to drug smuggling to kidnapping for ransom to occupying prime lands as squatters. We have had enough of this brotherly nonsense take them back. @ ET: Please publish this comment.
The entire Forex with Pakistan is 6 Billion. Its entire budget is 40 Billion. Its defence budget is 6 Billion.
So Pakistan has spent every dime of Forex on Afghan Refugees for the past 30 years, it would add up to = 180 BIllion.
So Pakistan is spending equivalent to its entire Defence Budget on Refugees? Mind you, you maintain an Army of 500k on that amount of money every year.
What do Afghan Refugees eat? Gold brick?
If you had to exaggerate why stop at 200 Billion, why not $1 Trillion?
Who needs enemies when you have friends like Pakistan.
@Hassaan: You should know that those commenting with Afghani, Jewish, or American names are mostly Hindu Indians.
Most of the world's Pukhtoons are Pakistanis, and Pakistan is a Pukhtoon nation, therefore we have the love and devotion of the Pukhtoons of Afghanistan, who are our blood brothers. Pakistan's national policy in Afghanistan has always been the protection and security of Afghanistan's Pukhtoon population, who have been exploited by the Soviets, Northern Alliance, Americans, Indians, and various other powers. This is the reason why 5 million of them, nearly 20% of Afghanistan's population is living in Pakistan. Fraternal ties between Afghan and Pakistani are unshakeable.
Not a single Pakistani has any regret about sheltering, educating, feeding, and caring for Afghan refugees. It is our duty as Muslims, and this aspect of Pakistan is why Pakistan is one of the most charitable nations on Earth. Our bonds of race and faith with Afghanistan can never be torn, regardless of what US puppet Karzai, Indian agents, or US meddling does. Long Live Pakistan, Afghan brotherhood forever.
God will sort it out eventually.
@Hassaan: You have caused immense harm to Afghanistan, Kashmir/India due to your interference. Peace and prosperity of Billion+ people has been disturbed by your mad policies of Strategic Depth and Kashmiri Jihad. You are also right that this has caused immense harm to Pakistan too. You have reaped more than you have sown. Hope you learnt your lessons...better late than never !
@ Maria..Pakistanis need to wake up from the slumber and start realizing the reality. We are under too many illusions For e.g We defeated Soviets...we were just a pawn in the bigger game...Pakistan is the fortress of Islam...more Muslims kill other Muslims in Pakistan than any other place.We are a superpower by virtue of owning a Nuclear bomb....superpowers do not roam the world with a begging bowl in hand..superpowers are sovereign...they don't have to beg another country to stop drone attacks on them.
Wow, what's with all the Indian and Afghani hate on a Pakistani news website? The fact that so many Indians are concerned about what goes on in Pakistan and comments on this website proves they are very insecure and bothered about what's going on in Pakistan, probably stemming from a deep inferiority complex. Pakistan has done tremendously for Afghan refugees and what did we get in return? Oh right, prostitution, drugs and terrorism.
@Saquib Mirza:
Those 1000 Billion, are they imaginary monopoly money? There is no US, UN, EU or any other allies documents/articles/reports that even in exaggeration claim to have given Pakistan anything near to that amount in Aid since 1947. Stop blaming the army just for the sake of blaming.
Here is the equation
Aid received from the USA and its allies = 1000 billion Spent on Afghan Refugees = 200 billion --------------------------- Balance used by Army Generals = 800 billion
@Afghanistan, voice of common Afghan: Pakistan feels it is its religious and humane duty to help our Afghan brothers. Most of us Pakistanis housing refugees in KP and Balochistan are Pukhtoon people and we share a bond which is based on our common heritage. It is important to note that Pakistan has 75% of the world's Pukhtoon population, and our policies in Afghanistan have always been for protecting and ensuring the rights and security of our Pukhtoon blood brothers in Afghanistan. The Pakistan army and ISI is the first to protect, house, and care for Afghan refugees, and we salute them, You are welcome to stay in Pakistan as long as you will, but don't criticize our army and ISI.
Also, I'm not sure whether you are an Indian Hindu hider or Afghan, but don't speak against the Pakistani government, which is helping 5 million Afghan citizens without asking anything in return. The best you can do, if you feel indebted to Pakistan, do not fight against the Pakistani nation.
The figure is very reasonable. People not wishing to believe it for political reasons need to study the impact these refugees have had on Pakistan. Its not just the amount spent on the refugees, but also the lack of investments in refugee populated areas, security issues, crime, drugs, polio, and the list could go on. Having this extra number of people to feed has made it very difficult for government planners, and made public services in affected areas crippled, because they were not geared towards such a large and permanent influx.
Also initially all planning was that these people would be here for only a short time. No one would have planned for providing refugees for 5+ years. Even today the government machinery is calculating that the remaining 3 million will be repatriated within 2-3 years, which is highly unlikely.
As a comparison just look at the number of Syrian refugees in Jordan/Libanon/Iraq/Turkey. Already now after 2 years the cost is in the billions, and thats for 2 million people. UN is seeking 2.5 billion to feed them just for one winter! Taking in refugees is very costly, thats why western european countries are so hesistant to doing so.
I think we as afghans owe a lot more than 200 billion to the common pakistani man but we don't even owe a penny to the goverment and it's army. Whilst the common man has welcomed us with open arms the generals, isi-ers and the politician have all exploited our misery. It is not true that pakistan spent so much money directly on Afghans because pakistan was given/is still being given money by the UN and other countries. However it is clear as light that pakistan has incurred losses far greater than 200 billions dollars due to the Afghan war. The common man in KP and Baluchistan, sindh and punjab has been our real helpers, we love them and we respect them and we hope they can come openly one day to visit us and do business/work in our country. But pakistani brothers: please put pressure on your government to no use terrorist as foreign policy tools, to stop supporting afghan taliban and to make good relationship with our country. Please don't buy anymore the negative propaganda about our country, 100s of indian consulates etc by your spy agencies. Both our countries will benefit from good relations. The generals, politicians won't change because they are getting rich and rich due to the chaos. But you my brothers/sisters can change the history by starting some tough questions.
@Pradhan: You cannot compare 5 million per capita with 180 million. Seems like this figure is very applicable.
we morally owe pakistani nation far more than $200 bilion and Allah forbid if pakistani nation need us in any case we would compensate. we love ordinary pakistanis. However, the pain pakistani military has instigated to us is much more than $200 billion and Allah knows how long we will suffer more due to the monsters created by pakistani military.
ok agreed, we all are fools
Afghan are fellow muslim brothers then why any bill.
This nothing but the frustration after failed US trip of Mian Sahab. Pakistan will be making noises about all sorts of things to take the frustration out. Who told Pakistan to keep Afghan Taliban leaders in Jails? Why did you get involved in Afghanistan? It was all your choice and you have to pay the price.
How much out of $200 billions were aided to Pakistan? Spending $200 billions out of over one Trillion dollars in Aid make a perfect Business Case for Pakistan.
I would be surprised if Pakistan even spent $20 million of its own money on the Afghan refugees. In fact, Pakistan has actually made a profit from their misery by constantly asking donors for hundreds of millions. Aren't all the Afghan refugee camps run by the UNHCR anyway?
Paks social economics aswell as future progressive outlook has been hampered due to their unwelcome stay. How many of these refugees would now even consider moving back 0%. How many would call themselves patriotic Pakistanis 0%. Or even thankful to Pakistan for taking them... <1%. My impression is above for Gen 1, 1.5 to 2. So 200bn figure is exponentially rolling to next 30 years of burdening.
@Plaintalk: Pakistan should ask for 200 trillion- after all the world owes Pakistan a lot for defeating the Soviet Union. How about all the money they saved the western powers; easily more than 200 trillion!
But Pakistan was created as a homeland of world Muslims !
Pakistan should take back the 'stranded Pakistanis' and (Burmise) Rohingas from Bangladesh. Due to Jinnah's wrong decision in 1946-47, the Rohingas are now suffering.
What do you guys call Afghanistan - Biradar Islami Mulk ?
It was Gen. Zia's biggest mistake to let Afghans come to Pakistan with kalashnikov and heroin. Chnia, Iran, India, all were backed off. This brotherhood has paid the price, and now they with India are hampering the country from all corners. $200b is a reasonable amount to support, feed, millions of refugees for over 30 years. Afghanistan should start paying this amount spent on their citizens...but like they would care.
Although $200bn is IMPOSSIBLE for that bankrupt country, however, it must be said that, 'even if Pakistan sells its soul, it cannot compensate the Afghans and the Indians for the terror it has unleashed on the innocent people of both countries'. The sad part is, it is not ready to stop, yet.
Our establishment and agencies should be ashamed to have falsely publish this news.. they have not spend 2 dollars on common afghan people, let alone some crazy numbers by some general sitting in his bunglow... These agencies have used the poor afghan people, brainwashed young people, poisoned the simple afghans for our strategic depth... shameless govt and establishment of ours..
While it seems exaggerated, it may actually be true. It comes out to be less than 3 lac per refugee and it does cost that much to feed and shelter someone for years!!
More importantly, ungrateful Afghans still consider Pakistan their enemy and take India's side who didn't take a single Afghan refugee during all these years.
Looks like Pakistan has of late learnt to deal only in billions. So cost of WOT - 66 billion, cost of looking after refugees - 200 billion. Isn't that amazing? A country that doesn't have 1 billion to spend on a gas pipeline that will be a lifeline has been spending in the tens and hundreds of billions. All the more incredible since it is also a country that doesn't even look after and provide for its own people, and for such a country to be spending hundreds of billions on refugees is just too much to believe. Unless of course they are adding all the bills for the losses incurred over the years from the failed policies of using terrorists as instruments of foreign policy. In that case, the bill should be handed over to the architects of those policies rather than the international community. As it is, the international community has lost all patience with Pakistani duplicity.
more than 200 billion in USD in 30 year for 5 million people which means per person gets around 4 USD every day for 30 years. According to the HDI, 60.3% of Pakistan's population lives on under $2 a day. So is the minister saying that afghan refugees are living a better life then average Pakistanis ???
@Armaan: I would say that Pakistan has spent over 200 billion dollars on the Afghani refugees when you factor in how much damage the refugees have done to the nation and the economy.
@Californian Desi: Think you also need to blame the role of US a lot and the Soviet in screwing up Afghanistan. If soviets hasn't invaded things would be different now. Since 1980s Pakistan has been the centre of terrorism, we all know that very well, but you surely think they could have done it on their own? Get a grip.
You can't cheat and double deal the international community and also expect the same international community to help you with funding and aid. Lot's of money will come to the help of Pakistan, once you learn to be honest in your dealings with the rest of the world, starting with your neighbors. Strategic depth in reverse -- The Taliban have gained depth from KP to Karachi. Enjoy !
$200 billion is a far fetched number - Looks like Pakistan is getting ready to ask the international community for compensation so the bill has been inflated.
I guess this is Pakistan's way of saying, exploiting Afghan refugee's is no longer profitable.
Stop cribbing Pakistan. This is just a spec of your repayment for screwing up their country using Taliban.
and how much did pakistan earn from strategic depth and dirty games played on the lives of poor Afghans...200 billion spent on Afghans... ??? hahaha this is the joke of history...if you had not played those dirty games and had not become slaves of USA... you could have not seen these results... so being slaves of USA.. you have to pay the price for it....still more to come in coming days..hehehe
Who makes up these numbers?
Yeah right... I have a hard time believing a figure of 20 billion, let alone 200 billion. Hugely exaggerated numbers to squeeze money from the international community looks more like it.