Pakistan slams delay in closure of Afghan refugee camps
By Masood Haider
UNITED NATIONS, Oct 16: Pakistan has criticised UN agencies operating in Afghanistan for delaying closure of four Afghan refugee camps close to the border which “serve as a source for the flow of cross-border militants”.
“The closure of these four camps is being delayed because of inexplicable reluctance, including on the part of UN Agencies, to facilitate the return of the refugees,” said Pakistan’s UN Ambassador Akram Zaki addressing the Security Council’s meeting on Afghanistan.
“Pakistan, Afghanistan and the UNHCR had reached an agreement to close down four Afghan refugee camps. It is somewhat disturbing to see the account in the Secretary General’s Report with regard to the closure of the Jalozai Camp, which we believe has been misrepresented in the report as have certain other aspects of the current situation,” he said.
Saying that Pakistan expected “the UN and the international community to assist in the repatriation of these Afghan refugees,” Mr Akram warned “they should not test our hospitality or our patience since we face the brunt of allegations of cross-border activity from these camps. Unfortunately, even UNAMA has on occasion displayed certain political insensitivity and lack of impartiality in its reports and its actions.”
