'Pull factors' can help re-integrate Afghans returning from Pakistan: Sartaj
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ISLAMABAD: Pakistan on Monday suggested that with the support of the international community, United Nations High Commission of Refugees (UNHCR) should assist the Afghan government in creating pull factors inside Afghanistan which would be helpful in the re-integration of Afghans returning from Pakistan.
The message was conveyed to visiting UNHCR chief António Guterres by Adviser to Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif on National Security and Foreign Affairs Sartaj Aziz during their meeting in Islamabad.
Mr Guterres is on a three-day ‘Ramazan Solidarity’ visit to Pakistan from June 22 to June 24.
During today's meeting, issues pertaining to Afghan refugees in Pakistan and their voluntary repatriation back to their homeland were discussed, Foreign Office spokesman Qazi Khalilullah said.
Mr Guterres acknowledged Pakistan's efforts in hosting the world’s largest refugee population for more than three decades.
In his response, Aziz also appreciated UNHCR's continuous engagement with Pakistan over the return of Afghan refugees.
During the meeting, both sides felt a strong need for donors to provide immediate, tangible and concrete support for re-integration activities inside Afghanistan.
It was also agreed that with the peaceful transition in Afghanistan and the commitment shown by the current dispensation, the time for successful repatriation and re-integration of Afghan refugees was appropriate now more than ever.
It will be the high commissioner’s seventh visit to Pakistan during the past 10 years. Since 2002, thousands of Afghan refugees have returned home with the help of the world community.
Guterres’ visit comes at a time when fresh emergencies in Middle East and Africa continue to engage global attention while the future of some 2.6 million Afghan refugees who have been living outside their country for over three decades still hangs in the balance. Around 95 per cent of the Afghan refugees are hosted by just two countries i.e. Pakistan and Iran.
Pakistan is hosting 1.5m registered Afghan refugees; 67pc live in urban or rural areas, while 33pc reside in 76 refugee villages. In addition, there are an estimated one million undocumented Afghans living in Pakistan.
Before coming to Pakistan, Guterres visited Afghanistan in May and held talks with the Afghan leadership.
UNHCR chief calls on PM Nawaz
UNHCR Chief Mr. Antonio Gutterres called on Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif at the PM House here this afternoon.
During the meeting, matters relating to Afghan refugees in Pakistan including repatriation to their homeland came under discussion.
The premier said Pakistan took care of Afghan refugees as a sacred duty, adding that their return to their homeland with dignity is a priority for the government.
PM Nawaz further said that Pakistan has paid a heavy price for fighting terrorism and now there is a national consensus to eliminate this menace.
He said Operation Zarb-i-Azb has successfully destroyed terrorists' hideouts and networks, adding that the first batch of displaced persons has gone back to their homes.
The premier also said that the government has allocated $1 billion dollars for reconstruction and rehabilitation of the affected area.
Mr. Gutterres informed the Prime Minister that he is on his annual Ramazan solidarity visit, and extended condolences on the loss of lives due to heat wave in Karachi.
Federal Minister for State and Frontier Regions (Safron) Lt. Gen (Retd.) Abdul Qadir Baloch, Advisor to PM on National Security and Foreign Affairs Sartaj Aziz, Secretary to PM Javed Aslam, Secretary Safron Pir Bux Jamali and Commissioner Refugees Imran Zeb Khan were present in the meeting.
