Kabul wants extension of refugees' stay, registration of undocumented Afghans

Registered Afghans have Proof of Registration (PoR) cards to stay in Pakistan till December 31 this year


Tahir Khan March 10, 2015
PHOTO: AFP

ISLAMABAD: Afghanistan wants Pakistan to extend the stay of nearly 1.61 million refugees, a member of the Afghan delegation said on Tuesday as both countries opened talks in Islamabad on the fate of nearly three million Afghan refugees.

Registered Afghans have Proof of Registration (PoR) cards to stay in Pakistan till December 31 of this year.

Maulvi Shahzada Shahid, a member of Parliament, who is accompanying the Afghan minister for refugees and repatriation, said Kabul has also called for the enlisting of around one million Afghans.

Read: Dignified repatriation: Body to document Afghan refugees

Sayed Hussain Alimi Balkh is leading a nine-member team for the talks, and the Pakistani side is being headed by Minister for States and Frontier Regions Abdul Qadir Baloch.

The Afghan delegation arrived in Islamabad on Sunday amid claims that Pakistan has launched a “crackdown” of the refugees following the Taliban attack on the Army Public School in Peshawar on December 16.

Pakistani and Afghan officials will also sit with the representatives of the UN refugee agency in Islamabad in a tripartite meeting on Tuesday, UNHCR spokesperson Duniya Khan said.

Read: Repatriation plan: Afghan team arrives to discuss refugee issues

The Afghan delegation attended a meeting in Peshawar with the governor, the chief minister and top police officials.

“Both sides agreed the governments of Afghanistan and Pakistan jointly work for the solution to the problems of the refugees,” Maulvi Shahid, who attended the Peshawar meeting, told The Express Tribune.

“We are asking for an extension in the duration of the stay of the registered refugees whose PoR cards will be expired in 2015, and documentation of all unregistered Afghans,” he said at a reception hosted by Afghan Ambassador Janan Mosazai in honour of the Afghan delegation.

Read: A home without food: Afghan refugees return to malnourished country

“The reality is that all refugees cannot return home, and if they stay in a vague status then it will be a matter of concern for the government of Pakistan and the refugees,” he said.

The Afghan leader also dispelled the impression of the involvement of refugees in terrorism.

“We insist that Afghans, who live in other countries -- especially Pakistan, do not indulge in terrorist activities. Pakistani authorities, to a large extent, recognise Afghanistan’s notion,” Maulvi Shahzada said.

“We also demand that the issue of terrorism should not be linked to the refugee issue,” he added.

Read:'Harassed' Afghan refugees fleeing Pakistan in aftermath of Peshawar school attack

He said leaders of both countries are now cooperating on security issues, which has raised hopes that they would find a solution to the problems.

Pakistan had registered some 2.15 million Afghans with the help of UNHCR in 2006-7. The PoR cards, valid until December 2009, were issued.

In December 2012, the Cabinet agreed to extend the stay of Afghan refugees in Pakistan until 30 June, 2013 as an interim measure, whilst the government formulated a national policy on Afghan refugees for the period beyond June 2013.

Read: Implementing NAP: No funds to register Afghan refugees, says SAFRON ministry

In July 2013, Pakistan approved a new policy on Afghan refugees, which included the extension of the PoR cards and the Tripartite Agreement on Voluntary Repatriation until 31 December, 2015.

UNHCR says approximately 33% of the population live in 76 Refugee Villages (RVs) in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, Balochistan and Punjab. The remaining 67% live in urban and rural areas.

COMMENTS (14)

Ammar | 8 years ago | Reply @Nazir khan: As far i know, All Pashtoons on this side of border are the most Patriotic people in Pakistan. and we are well protecting our country from back stabbers like you. For Afghan Refugees or Afghan Haters(Like you), they can go to their own country and live in Peace. we have done enough good to you guys and in response You have replied with only Hate. You dont need to go back 5000 Years. Just have a look at what you are today :) @ET: Shame on you for posting the above comment.
Nazir khan | 8 years ago | Reply @Dr. Khalid: We are very grateful to you for these comments on your part. we know that one day will come that all pakhtuns once again will rule over all these region and all our enemies feel fear of our past therefore they are creating propoganda against us and we know their objective the first priority of these people and westren power is that they want to divide us in different part of our own terriority. They will fail in their agenda Mr AMMAR and his mind setup people they did not aware of our five thousand;s year;s history you know that pashto is our language afghan is our race all pakhtoons are the sons of afghan who came from israil and started living in this region before 5000 years I slute u and to your knowledge we need educated people like you who can do a lot of work for this nation of the world you are fully aware the whole situation of this region .WE WILL INSPIRE OUR NATION TO STRUGGLE AGAINST THE EVIL OF FORCE.WE CAN PUT A NEW LIFE INTO THE YOUTH OF OUR NATION. ONE DAY WILL COME THE PEOPLE LIKE AMMAR DO THE SAME JOB AND HE WILL POLISH OUR SHOES
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