ISLAMABAD, Oct 29: The talks between visiting UNHCR chief, Ruud Lubbers, and Pakistani authorities about opening of borders remained deadlocked on Monday as both parties struck to their often repeated earlier official positions.
Speaking at a news conference, UNHCR chief’s spokesperson, Ron Redmond said: “Since we still agree to disagree on the possibility of opening the borders, Pakistan has allowed in only the vulnerable refugees.”
The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, Ruud Lubbers, on the second stage of his visit to Pakistan, met federal minister for Northern Areas and Frontiers Division, Abbas Sarfaraz, in Islamabad and once again called for opening the borders.
Reiterating Pakistan’s official position of keeping the borders closed, federal minister Abbas Sarfaraz told the UNHCR chief that only the vulnerable individuals including women, children, the elderly and the wounded would be allowed in the country on humanitarian basis.
Over the next two days, Mr Lubbers has confirmed meetings with the ministers of the interior and foreign affairs.
Mr Lubbers, who is also tentatively scheduled to meet on Tuesday with President Pervez Musharraf, will be reiterating UNHCR’s call to open the borders during the meeting, a UNHCR press release said.
According to the press release, Mr Lubbers will also urge greater flexibility on deciding which Afghan refugees meet the criteria of vulnerability. Mr Lubbers is expected to ask Gen Musharraf to include men fleeing forced conscription in the vulnerable category, the press release said.
The UNHCR said testimonies of the people fleeing from Afghanistan to Pakistan consistently indicate that both the ruling Taliban and the Northern Alliance are trying to conscript men to fight in the war.
Spokesperson of the High Commissioner, Ron Redmond, said that Mr Lubbers has urged Pakistan to issue public assurances to Afghans that those who have already fled to Pakistan will not be deported. This would enable Afghan refugees already in the country to come forward and seek shelter and aid in 15 refugee camp sites readied by UNHCR, that can hold up to 150,000 people.
He said according to a conservative estimate, at least 80,000 Afghans have crossed into Pakistan from Afghanistan since Sept 11. “But only a small fraction are accommodated in a refugee staging camp in the Quetta area. Most Afghans have blended into existing refugee settlements or have found accommodation with the local population.”
Mr Redmond said that the UNHCR officials recognize the validity of Pakistan’s fear of security problems in the wake of a possible large influx of Afghan refugees and the need to separate civilians from persons who could represent a security risk.
On Wednesday, Mr Lubbers will leave for Iran.
FUNDING: According to a press release, the UNHCR had received $52 million contributions by Monday.
Confirmed cash contributions as on Oct 29 in (US$) are: Australia 1,951,220; Canada 759,494; Chile 20,000; Czech Republic 107,325; Denmark 3,384,887; Finland 772,213; Germany 5,164, 561; Greece 500,000; Ireland 349, 789; Italy 7,113,725; Liechtenstein 62,112; Luxembourg 341,451; Monaco 91,827; Netherlands 5,000,333; Norway 3, 331, 462* ; Private Donors 2,111,852; Sweden 1,398,401; United Kingdom 3,676,471; US 14,000,000; Total contributions 51,973,668.