ISLAMABAD, July 12 (APP): Minister for States and Frontier Regions (SAFRON) Lt General (R) Abdul Qadir Baloch has said Pakistan wanted honourable repatriation of Afghan refugees to their country as per its international commitment.
Pakistan, he said, had the commitment in 2009 that the Afghan refugees would be sent back to their country with honour and dignity, and “we are fulfilling our commitment.”
Talking to PTV, Abdul Qadir Baloch said Pakistan had been hosting about three million Afghan refugees for decades and now was the time that they should be sent back as they were a burden on national economy.
He said some 1.5 million out of total three million refugees were unregistered while the UNHCR provided assistance for only registered ones.
The minister said during the Hamid Karzai government in Afghanistan, no sincere effort was made for the repatriation of refugees from Pakistan.
However, current Afghan President Ashraf Ghani had shown some commitment in that regard.
He said the international community should acknowledge Pakistan’s services to Afghan refugees and help in their respectful repatriation.
Commenting on security of China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) western route, the minister said the Pakistan Army had ensured foolproof security on the route where development work was underway.
The army had established a security division which ensured all security arrangements for the people working on the route, he added.
To a question about the rehabilitation of Internally Displaced
Persons, some 2.5 million persons had displaced and most of them had been sent back to their native areas in Bajaur, Mohmand and Khyber agencies.
The remaining IDPs belonged to North and South Waziristan,
who would also be sent back soon, he added.
