May 10, 2002	Friday	Safar 26, 1423

Please Visit our Sponsor (Ads open in separate window).

ISLAMABAD, May 9: United States Ambassador Wendy J. Chamberlin, along with a two-member delegation, called on Kashmir Affairs and Northern Areas and State and Frontier Region Minister Abbas Sarfaraz Khan, here on Thursday, to discuss the issue of Afghan refugees and related problems.

The minister told the US delegation that the policy of the government regarding Pakistan-Afghanistan border had not changed, says a press release.

Sarfaraz said the borders were still closed and only those holding genuine travelling documents and visa were allowed to enter Pakistan.

The international community, he stressed, should be forthcoming on their pledges announced during the Tokyo conference as repatriation of refugees would largely depend on reconstruction and revival of economic activity in Afghanistan.

He informed the US ambassador that during last few months more than 450,000 Afghan refugees had gone back voluntarily.

Sarfaraz said Afghan refugees wanted to go back provided the Afghan government extended security and support to them.

The US ambassador recalled that the US was the single largest donor country which had been providing financial aid to the Afghan people and would continue its support.

She also discussed with the minister the issue of displaced Afghans located at Chaman (Balochistan) and matters related to them.

The repatriation process of Afghan refugees, security issues in Afghanistan, setting of internally displaced persons camps in Afghanistan by the UNHCR and the role of the latter in this respect also came under discussion.