ISLAMABAD: During a visit to Pakistan this week, United States (US) Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for Population, Refugees and Migration Nancy Izzo Jackson recognised Pakistan’s generosity hosting one of the largest, most-protracted refugee populations in the world for nearly forty years.
She encouraged the Pakistan government to work with United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) and the Afghan government on a plan that supports voluntary, sustainable, and dignified repatriation of these refugees.
As the largest single-country contributor for humanitarian assistance in Pakistan and the region, since 2002 the US has provided, through UNHCR and other partners, nearly $2.9 billion to support Afghan refugees, returnees, affected Afghan populations, and the Pakistani communities and others who host them.
While in Pakistan, Deputy Assistant Secretary Izzo Jackson held discussions with the Federal Minister for States and Frontier Regions (SAFRON) Lieutenant General (retd) Abdul Qadir Baloch, Pakistan Army’s Chief of General Staff (CGS) General Bilal Akbar and other senior officials at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ministry of Interior and the UNHCR.
In addition, she also met with Afghan Ambassador to Pakistan Dr Omar Zakhilwal.