PESHAWAR, Feb 1: United Nations High Commission for Refugees has claimed that a large number of Afghans living in the NWFP refugees camps have expressed their willingness to return to their country. As many as 500 to 800 refugee families daily submit their applications for voluntary repatriation, likely to be started by the end of March.

Despite UNHCR’s claim, a majority of the refugees deem it safe to stay on in Pakistan till the return of peace to their homeland. At present, three parallel systems are operating in Afghanistan: (1) the old Mujahideen commanders, (2) successors of the Taliban and (3) nominees of the Kabul. They are running the affairs in different provinces that may discourage refugees from returning.

During a visit to Kotkai camp, Bajaur Agency and Katcha Garhi camp, Peshawar, many refugees said that in the absence of a stable government in Kabul and in view of the ongoing tug-of-war among various warlords, refugees would prefer to stay in Pakistan.

Abdul Hakim, 46, an inmate of Kotkai camp said: “Unless there is a constitutional government in Kabul and lasting peace in the country, refugees would not go back to Afghanistan. The ongoing tussle among warlords would put Afghans in a fix as to whose order they must obey, he said.

Senior Emergency Coordinator UNHCR, Mohammad Adar, also said the repatriation plan’s success hinged on the political developments taking place in Afghanistan. “But people affiliated with the Northern Alliance might go back,” he said, but hastened to add: “this is my personal feeling.”

Sources in the UNHCR told Dawn here on Friday that in the wake of recent developments, particularly after the Tokyo conference held last month, the number of those intending to go back to their country has increased.

An official said that before Tokyo conference, roughly 200 refugee families gave applications daily for repatriation.

“The agency received some 5,000 applications from refugee families in December 2001, showing willingness to return,” the official source revealed.

The UNHCR has stepped up its activities for the massive repatriation programme and its counselling and assessment teams have arrived here from Geneva and Islamabad to asses the repatriation plan.

The assessment team is visiting various refugee camps in the NWFP and the Federally Administered Tribal Areas (Fata) and will submit its report before the repatriation begins, the UNHCR official said. A four-member counselling team, in the meanwhile, is busy training the field staff.