Baloch was speaking at a press conference called to address demands by political parties and civil society for the safe and swift return of Afghan refugees to their homeland.
He noted that there was no reason for alarm or apprehension. “We are not going to push them overnight. They will be sent back respectfully, on a voluntary basis and according to the time-frame decided upon.”
He also emphasised the need for refugees to be registered in light of the law and order situation.
The minister said that UNHCR was cooperating with the government and that Pakistan had played host to the refugees in the best possible manner.
International community’s indifference
“The international community has forgotten this story,” Baloch said, referring to the refugee situation in Pakistan.
He compared the Afghan refugee situation with the refugee situation in Syria where there were 900,000 refugees last year compared while in Pakistan there were there million refugees, while Iran had upward of 1.5 million. “The largest exodus of refugees in history has been to Pakistan.”
Baloch said that the international community had committed $600 million to Pakistan in 2012 to alleviate the refugee situation in Pakistan, but that Pakistan had not even received $100 million of that amount, even though the programme was supposed to end in 2014.
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@ziba: You don't have to worry. First the plan laid out by the Minister is not going to work just like all the other government plans. And secondly, educated and conscientious people like you always have a way to get out of trouble if at all. We stand by our Afghan brethren like you.
i am from Afghanistan i would like to say that me and my brothers born in Pakistan we graduated from Pakistani institution we never saw our hometown just hearing the stories of killing and war now my father died this year we dont know where to go even we forgot our own culture and local language we cant adjust now in that society we have relation with these people our elders buried here we love Pakistan when we go to Afg they called us Pakistanies and you called us Majar.you may know that million of Pakistani-es have got the nationality of well developed countries in the world on the name of Afghans they have got protections and green cards if Pak govt give us the nationality no disaster will come in Pakistan..but remember if the UNO not succeeded in 35 years to resettle the 3 million refugees then how they will push them and to settle them in few months are in one month .i think if again the 3 million people displaced i believe this will bring once again a big disaster in this region and the result will more harmful and dangerous for both countries.i request the Pakistan Govt at least in first they should give the Nationality to the graduate and qualified Afghan refugees who got their Higher education from Pakistan colleges and Universities as an Afghan refugee students..
@Ilyas: So many Muslims in UK or in Europe are also cheating money from government while living in ghettos on state social assistance or khayrat. Who cares about money from IMF or anyone. All of the aid money in any Muslim country is embezzled. Look at the billions pumped into Afghanistan which has not changed despite the whole world trying. They corrupt Afghan officials take out the money to buy property overseas and most Afghans are interested in smuggling themselves overseas to live as refugees on social assistance. Better to send refugees living in Pakistan to their own countries since the country can no longer deal with burden of housing people who are a drain on the country.
There is no discipline at Pak-Afghan boarder so far and this loose control is due monoploy of smugglers and maliks of FATA,they all paying lot of money to those who ensure discipline.So each Afghani pays money to enter.
brotherhood of no boundaries has destroyed Pakistan
The minister said “We are not going to push them overnight. They will be sent back respectfully, on a voluntary basis and according to the time-frame decided upon.” The failure is inbuilt in this statement: 1. Respectfully: There is no concept of "Respect". I they had one they would have gone back to Afghanistan long time ago. 2. Voluntary: So far nothing in this regard has been seen. 3. Time - Frame Decided. This is not possible logistically. This means 350000 people should move back every month from January 2015. or 11600 Refugees per day which In terms of transport means 300 buses and 150 trucks per day plying from Pakistan to Afghanistan. Conclusion: It is a non starter announcement of Non Serious Government,
Even if you got the funds from IMF, its very unlikely to be spent on Refugees. The majority of the money will end up in Corrupt officials swiss banks accounts, purchasing new Landcruisers and Villas.
The vast majority of these politicians need tobe strug up and vetted capable people allowed to come into government positions.
Over 50 years of independence and what a sorry state of affairs the country is in -because most of funds that should have been spent on public facilities has been looted by the elite. If the funds were spend in a transparent manner Pakistan would be one of the most developed nations.
Shame Shame