QUETTA: The UNHCR country representative, Maya Ameratunga, has said that her organisation would not support Afghan refugees found involved in terror activities in Pakistan.

Talking to journalists here on Thursday, Ms Ameratunga said the UN refugee agency was aware of security challenges in Pakistan and supported measures being taking by the government to improve law and order.

Ms Ameratunga was accompanied by the UNHCR’s Balochistan head, Fabio.

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She said some Afghan refugees, both registered and illegal, had been taken into custody by Pakistan’s law-enforcement agencies for their alleged involvement in terror activities. The UNHCR, she added, would provide legal assistance only to registered Afghan refugees.

She said the UN refugee agency has been providing assistance to Afghan refugees for their voluntary repatriation to their home country.

She called upon the Pakistan government not to use force for the repatriation of Afghans. The forced evacuation of refugees would affect a large number of Afghan families as security situation in Afghanistan was still not conducive, she added.

She said efforts to improve security situation in Afghanistan were continued so that repatriation process of Afghan refugees from neighbouring countries could be carried out in a smooth way.

She said the UNHCR kept a continuous vigil at the activities of Afghan refugees and would inform Pakistani authorities if anyone of them is found involved in suspicious activities.

Published in Dawn, January 17th, 2015

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