PESHAWAR, June 18: Participants of a dialogue on the future of Afghans in Pakistan called for extension in the tripartite agreement to pave way for safe repatriation of the remaining three million refugees to their country. They urged the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees to give up its political character and come out with a humanitarian agenda to facilitate the repatriation process.

The dialogue was organized by the Sustainable Development Policy Institute on Saturday.

A scholar, Nancy Dupree, stressed the need for proper legal mechanism to provide protection to the Afghans who did not have valid documents. She said basic facilities, including health and education, should be provided to Afghans in their country.

Former commissioner for Afghan refugees Jamshedul Hassan said the refugees intending to repatriate would face a tough time as the agreement signed by Pakistan, Afghanistan and the UNHCR would expire in March 2006.