ISLAMABAD, Oct 28: Hostility towards refugees and aid workers in the tribal areas of Pakistan is already high and may increase with a further influx of refugees, making it difficult for relief agencies to operate, the Human Rights Watch (HRW) warned in a letter, addressed to President Gen Pervez Musharraf.

The letter, dated Oct 26, called upon the government to halt establishment of camps in the federally-administered tribal areas (Fata) of the country.

It said United Nations and non-governmental relief agencies had already been subjected to harassment and attacks in the course of preparing and constructing those camps. “The camps are also dangerously close to the border with Afghanistan in violation of international standards that stipulate that camps should be located at a ‘safe distance’ from international borders.”

The HRW said plans by the government to establish camps inside Afghanistan instead of allowing refugees to cross into Pakistan could seriously endanger the lives of refugees.

The letter, written by Rachael Reilly, refugee policy director at the HRW, said: “The security of refugees cannot be guaranteed in either of these areas. The Taliban’s record of protecting its own citizens is dismal and the tribal areas are known to be insecure, inaccessible, and lacking an adequate water supply.”

The HRW said that by turning away refugees at the border and deporting those, who had already crossed the border, and by sending them to camps in Afghanistan, Pakistan would be violating fundamental international obligations that did not allow returning refugees to a country, where their lives were threatened.

“Human Rights Watch appreciates the assistance that the Pakistani government has already been providing to over two million Afghan refugees for the past two decades and the strain that a further influx of refugees will place on the country’s resources”, said Reilly. “However, these concerns must be addressed in accordance with Pakistan’s international obligations to protect refugees and provide them with a safe refuge in Pakistan”, he added.