Karzai likely to announce release of 400 Pakistanis
By Syed Irfan Raza
ISLAMABAD, July 23: Afghan President Hamid Karzai, during his three-day visit to Pakistan starting from July 26, will announce the repatriation of 400 Pakistanis languishing in Afghan jails, a source in the interior ministry told Dawn on Friday.
During the visit, the Afghan president will be accompanied by Foreign Minister Abdullah Abdullah and other senior officials. More than 700 Pakistanis were put behind bars in Afghanistan after the downfall of the Taliban government. These Pakistanis were accused of having links with the Taliban and Al Qaeda.
Talking to Dawn, Foreign Office spokesman Masood Khan confirmed that Pakistani prisoners would be released soon. He said that besides the issue of repatriation of jailed Pakistanis, other matters to figure in talks with the Afghan delegation would be terrorism, border security, trade and economic uplift of Afghanistan.
Responding to a question, the FO spokesman said that during Mr Karzai's visit, a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) will be signed between the two countries under which Afghan refugees in Pakistan would take part in the presidential elections in Afghanistan scheduled to be held in October this year.
However, he said, the modus operandi about their participation in election would be chalked out jointly by the two governments, International Organisation of Immigration and United Nations Assistance Mission (UNAM).
Pakistan hosts about 3.5 million Afghan refugees. The FO spokesman said that both Pakistan and Afghanistan were trying to improve their relations and cooperate in different fields.
Recently, Pakistan and Afghanistan signed an MoU to address various issues of mutual interest, including international terrorism, extremist activities, drug control and smuggling, gun-running, human smuggling, money laundering and other organized and international crimes.
The MoU was signed during interior minister Makhdoom Syed Faisal Saleh Hayat's two-day visit to Kabul early this month. Under the MoU, both countries would strengthen cooperation between Interpol National Central Bureau (NCB) Pakistan and Interpol NCB Afghanistan and a hotline would be established in this regard.
The two countries have also decided to establish joint working groups for combating terrorism and extremist activities. Mr Khan said Pakistan and Afghanistan had already signed an MoU regarding eradication of poppy cultivation and smuggling of illicit drugs.
Meanwhile, Islamabad Capital Territory administration and Capital Development Authority are finalizing arrangements for a warm reception for Afghan President Karzai.
