Pakistan calls for unified approach to tackle refugee crisis

Dr Maleeha Lodhi says foreign intervention begets more chaos and violence

Pakistan has called for a clear, resolute and unified approach based on humanitarian principles to tackle what is being called the Europe’s worst migration crisis since World War II.

Hundreds of thousands of refugees from violence-stricken countries such as Iraq and Syria are flooding Europe in search for better future.

“Foreign intervention begets more chaos and violence breaking down established structures, destroying states and displacing people, Pakistan's Permanent Ambassador to the UN Dr Maleeha Lodhi said in a UN General Assembly meeting in Washington about Syrian asylum-seekers on Saturday.



According to Radio Pakistan, the Pakistani envoy said a few countries had blatantly refused to accept Muslim refugees, adding the denial of asylum to refugees was legally, politically and morally untenable.

“The flow of humanity to European shores must be met with humanity,” the ambassador said, claiming Pakistan was still hosting more than three million Afghan refugees.



The Pakistani representative stressed the need for political solutions to halt conflicts in Syria, Iraq, Afghanistan and elsewhere in the world.

Her remarks come a week after leaders of the G20 countries converged in Turkey to discuss several global issues, including the Syrian refugee crisis. Rights groups have also urged world leaders to work closely to resolve the worst crisis since WWII.