Due to strong opposition by the people of Pakistan over the long presence of Afghan refugees, officials are putting pressure on the estimated 2.8 million registered and unregistered Afghan refugees to return to their homeland by the end of 2012.
The government has said it will not renew the ID cards of the 1.8 million registered Afghan refugees. They have been living in Pakistan for the last 23 years and would not go back unless and until forced to leave. Because of their presence, the crime rate in all the major cities has increased manifold.
They have also been a source of increasing unemployment because they have occupied some of the jobs of Pakistani work force. Officials said the UNHCR and other agencies would pressurise Pakistan to accept their further stay but due to strong opposition from the people and the provincial governments, it would not be possible to accede to their request. Last week, Ministry of States and Frontier Regions Secretary Habibullah Khan was quoted by the media as saying, “The international community desires us to review this policy but we are clear on this point. The refugees have become a threat to law and order, security, demography, economy and local culture. Enough is enough.”
“After December 31, there is no plan to extend the validity of the POR [proof of registration] cards of Afghan refugees. Those currently registered will lose the status of refugees. They will be treated under the law of the land. The provincial governments have already been asked to treat the existing unregistered refugees as illegal immigrants.”
“Asylum space is narrowing given that the government of Pakistan is pretty serious about returning most of them to Afghanistan,” said Aamir Fawad, protection officer with the UNHCR. “We are talking to the government to extend, but it is unclear what will happen.” In June, the government agreed to delay the forced repatriation of 400,000 Afghans who were rounded up in Peshawar for being in the country illegally.
Afghan refugees must leave Pakistan!! 23 years of hospitality and Afghan remain ever thankless!! Get off the hook now!! thankless creatures!!
UNHCR is Lobbying and advocating for extending the stay of Afghan Refugees just because they have vested interest. No one can give jobs to people presently employed in UNHCR.They also enjoy benefits in the form luxury vehicles, very high salaries and most importantly corruption in NFI’s, tents and in camp management. I will request the Pakistan Government to please take serious steps in sending back these Afghan refugees most of whom are involve in criminal activities.
come on dear Nasir Bhai. Leave what the government of paksitan saying and leave what other poeple saying. look brother if you see around , most of the pakistani have prouding of being friends of Afghans instead of pakistani. somewhere you guys are saying that the afghan refugees are on the rights of pakistani citizens. could you please exagerate that in which official company the afghan citizen works? first think then say dear nasir bhai. just visit peshawar hayatabad, you will meet alot of our pakistani property dellers who wish to give their homes to Afghan instead of your own citizens? Dear salim bhai if you take even your friends mobile and look for their contacts , i am quite sure you will find many numbers of afghans. this is just because of this that we are Peace LOVING PEOPLE. I CAN TELL YOU CLEARLY THAT WE WILL BE GIVEN EXTENSION, EVEN IF YOU SHOUTED OR BRING BORDERS. IF YOU WERE REALLY A GREAT MUSLIM THEN YOU MAY NEVER SAID TAKE AFGHAN MUSLIMS REFUGEES OUT OF YOUR COUNTRY. JUST SEE WHAT HAS PASSED BEFORE THAT THE BORDERS OF ISLAMIC COUNTRIES WILL BE OPEN FOR EACH OTHER. BUT YOU GUYS ARE CLOSING IT . THNK BRO THNK. WE ARE HURT ALOT BECAUSE OF THOSE PAKISTANI POEPLE WHOM WE LOVE ALOT ARE GIVING OPPOSITE STATEMENTS TODAY.
We Like Afghan people and they are most honest then our Pakistani people
they work hard and they respect more then us their elders and respectable people
In 23 years many people made relationship with Afghan people i mean they married and also some Pakistani girls married with afghans,
We love Afghan People
what will happen to afghans in pakistan after june 30th 2013?
MR. AAMIR,
Mind your language and do not try to be the president, I don't know who the hell are you making the relation bad, Pakistani people are very good with Afghan and so does Afghans as Ms. Saima said they have connected to each other…
non of the Afghans are working in Pakistani offices, they have their own business their and they have employed many pakistanis. Mr. Nasir I dont know where the hell your coming from see GEO FIR and you will know who are cause for crimes..
ZAK
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