World

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 | 9 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 | 9 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

VIEW MORE COMMENTS

Nazir khan | 9 years ago | Reply always think positive and don't hate anyone your comments show that you are envious of afghans.

Nazir khan | 9 years ago | Reply @Ammar: Mr. Amar reality is different

Dr. Khalid | 9 years ago | Reply @Ammar Which referendum are you talking about? The one on the 13th of August 1947 when hundreds of Pashtoons were killed in cold blood! Why don't you give up on Kashmir? And give rights FATA and the people of Baluchistan? Why were you trying to make deal with UBL to spare Punjab? Talking to people like you is simply a wast of time! Get you information straight, you can't do referendum on someone's land without consent! You may call Durand Line a boundary but they never said it was! You were providing shelter to them on their land for your reasons not out of humanity! You were using them against their own country by training them and sending them back to destroy their country! It's a know fact today! Dollars were flowing to you because of them and you had no other choice but to obey the west! What good have you done to them except being a tool in destroying their country to stone ages!! Peshawar used to be the winter capital of Afghanistan! Not anymore but at least Afghans can be welcomed in a dignified manner in the land of their grandfathers! I'm not going follow this thread anymore so don't wast your time!

Ammar | 9 years ago | Reply @Dr. Khalid: I would reply one by one... What if I tell you that All Pakistanis are of Indian Origin and still Indians have not accepted Pakistan by heart?? You don't need to play ethnic card. You don't need to go back 100 years...All you need is to check the results of referendum that was held in 1947, through which Pakistan came into being. And yes, Afghans are our brothers thats y we have given them refuge. Tell me a single country which has given refuge to 5 million people? And given them full independence to roam anywhere in country? ? And buy property. ..do business. ..and also involve in unlawful activities? ? And for Hate...may be as a Pakistani... I am a bit selfish at this time...but this is not hate...this is reality ... For understanding the meaning of hate u must meet some Afghan or just read any newspaper emerging from Kabul... Try to be positive man!!

Dr. Khalid | 9 years ago | Reply Mr. Ammar You don't teach me that! How about if I tell you that all Pashtoons of are Afghans by blood and the territory belong to them is the occupied territory by Pakistan! And that there was a 100 year contract that got expired in 1990s. Don't even go there. I'm a Pakistani and I know the delicacy of thaws issues. Your comments won't do any good except spreading hatred and more problems for the already humiliated poor KP!

Ammar | 9 years ago | Reply @Dr. Khalid: With due respect, that time millions of people migrated from Hindustan to newly built Pakistan. You can't compare Pakistanis (who came from Hinduatan) to these Afghans Refugees. For history, I think you must put some of your time in post 1947 to 1970s when our western borders were continuously invaded by then Stable Afghanistan. ZA Bhutto carried out raids inside Afghanistan in 1976 as a counter attack of Afghan invasion. Also, Afghanistan has always been a base for Indians to create issues on our western borders. I hope this is enough history for your enlightenment :)

Dr. Khalid | 9 years ago | Reply @Ammar: Hey Mr. read a bit of a history, go a little beyond 1947 and assemble your thoughts! Why don't you ask to Beharies and bangalies to leave the countery? Lets not go there. Be respectful in what you say. We need good relation with Afghanistan. If you don"t want that then they have a good card to play too at an international level and they are very well aware of it. PMLN and PPP sucked and drained Pakistan will have hard time then at that stage!

Ammar | 9 years ago | Reply @Khan Gul: Excuse me?? could not get your point.. You mean to say that the Legal Pakistanis, working with stamped Visas in Afghanistan...? You are most welcomed to send them back...and even ask for expertise from your Best Friend i.e India... and also you can send the Legal Afghans to INDIA(So that they can back stab you, but dont come to Pakistan for your own rescue afterwards)...

Bewildered | 9 years ago | Reply Has Afghanistan handed over the 6 arrested TTP terrorists linked with APS attack before asking the favor?

Khan Gul | 9 years ago | Reply How can you force somebody to go back when they have valid documents !!!!! I know many families who have valid documents of stay uptil 31st December 2015 and they are forced to go back. Imagine if Afghanistan also reciprocates and sends back the thousands of Pakistanis who are working in Afghan banks, universities, and institututes back just like "that".

Asad Khan | 9 years ago | Reply Pakistan should not extend a minute to the Refugees who have RoR cards and there will be no compromise on un-registered ones. Afghanistan have more than enough funds plus the global forces who can help integrate the Refugees in Afghanistan. If Afghanistan can not take the responsibility of its refugee people then Afghanistan has no right to exist as a nation state, period. regards,

Ammar | 9 years ago | Reply No..Absolutely not...! We dont want any of the Afghan Refugee in our land...the undocumented or illegal persons should be put behind bars at once... It is even shameful is for Afghan Authorities to request for extension of deadline...they must first control the negative propaganda by the people like Karzai(Although we know that Ghani is the same blood and will stab in Pakistan's back shortly). Sincerely, we dont have grudge to our Afghan brothers, but they must realize our own internal issues. we cant let the refugees play a part of spies, extortioners and terrorists at the hands of Indians...

Replying to X