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| December 12, 2002 | Thursday | Shawwal 7, 1423 |
Visa rules relaxation for Afghans sought
QUETTA, Dec 11: The participants of a conference on Tuesday unanimously demanded that the governments of Pakistan and Afghanistan should release each other’s citizens languishing in their jails because of minor crimes.
The conference, organized by Afghanistan-Pakistan People’s Friendship Association, was presided over by Human Rights Commission Chairman Afrasiab Khattak.
The participants observed that the Afghan government had shown goodwill in this regard and released many Pakistanis.
The participants urged the government to relax visa restrictions for Afghans.
They were of the view that the expansion of friendly relations between the countries would provide grounds for peace in the region and the world.
They said such relations would make the atmosphere conducive to expansion of trade and prosperity.
The conference called upon the two governments and the world community, especially the United Nations organizations, to make efforts to improve the repatriation process and provide conditions for the resettlement of the millions of Afghans who had been repatriated.
The speakers highlighted the problems being faced by the Afghan refugees and displaced persons inside the country.
They warned that huge and unplanned repatriation would bring new tragedies.
They said that the level of cooperation between the governments was weak for the spontaneous and unplanned repatriation.
They said that by developing goodwill and cooperation, Afghan refugees living here could become the ambassadors of peace and they could strengthen the relations between the countries.
The conference called upon the world community to fulfil its pledges for the reconstruction of Afghanistan’s economy and establishment.
They suggested that the countries should work for restoring peace and democracy in Afghanistan.
A former Afghan minister, Babrak Shanwari, former vice-chairman of Balochistan chapter of the HRCP, Tahir Mohammad Khan, Balochistan National Party (Mengal) Secretary-General Habib Jalib, and others attended the conference.
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