Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Tuesday urged the international community to recognize the “burden of Afghan refugees” borne by Pakistan and demonstrate “collective responsibility” to address the issue, the prime minister’s office said.
The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) arrived in Pakistan on Sunday for a three-day visit, its first since the caretaker government announced a plan to repatriate what it called “undocumented aliens” in November last year.
Prime Minister Shehbaz noted that despite numerous challenges, Pakistan hosted the Afghan refugees with exemplary respect and dignity, the statement added.
He requested UNHCR’s support in mobilizing adequate resources to complement Pakistan’s efforts in this regard and urged the global refugee agency to play its role in finding durable solutions to address the situation of Afghan refugees, including their safe and dignified return and reintegration into their homeland. , as well as relocation to third countries.
While reaffirming Pakistan’s commitment to address the protection and security needs of people in vulnerable situations, Prime Minister Shehbaz emphasized that the international community must be mindful of the socio-economic challenges and security threats Pakistan faces.
Pakistan began the first round of repatriation of what it called “undocumented aliens” in November last year.
But according to informed sources, the total number of undocumented Afghans who returned to Afghanistan through Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan in the first round is around half a million.
UNHCR will lead a dialogue on refugees
The day before, Grandi met Pakistan’s Minister of States and Frontier Regions (Safron), Amir Muqam, and said UNHCR would organize a global dialogue, most likely in October, to discuss refugee-related issues, Safron’s ministry said.
“Pakistan will be specially invited on this occasion,” the UNHCR chief said in a statement. He expressed the hope that the event will create a new dimension and avenues to support refugees around the world.
He added that it was “a matter of concern” that there had been a drop in support for Afghan refugees and development funds for their host areas in Pakistan.
Meeting with FM Dar
Grandi also called on Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar on Monday and appreciated Pakistan’s efforts and contributions in hosting Afghan refugees for decades, according to a foreign ministry statement.
He briefed Dar, who is also the foreign minister, about the ongoing projects of UNHCR and emphasized the importance of continued engagement and cooperation between Pakistan and UNHCR.
Dar emphasized that new humanitarian situations emerging around the world must not divert global attention from the needs of millions of Afghans.
The gift also emphasized the need for continued demonstration of international solidarity and faithful adherence to the principle of international responsibility and burden sharing.
