The spokesperson of United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) in Pakistan, Qaiser Afridi in an exclusive interview to SAMAA TV put forward a proposal to address the issue of undocumented Afghan refugees in Pakistan.
He stressed Afghans Refugees repatriation must be on voluntarily basis and must not be carried forcefully.
With Pakistan currently facing economic challenges, Afridi emphasized the importance of international solidarity in managing the Afghan refugee crisis while advocating for a humane approach towards those seeking refuge.
“Pakistan is currently home to approximately 1.3 million registered Afghan refugees. Many of them arrived in Pakistan over the past two years due to deteriorating conditions in Afghanistan.” says Afridi
The spokesperson said that to address their registration and legal status, the UNHCR is preparing to develop a comprehensive action plan.
Afridi highlighted Pakistan's financial constraints and called for increased international support to aid both the Afghan refugees and the host country.
He stressed the need for a responsible and dignified repatriation process for Afghan refugees, emphasizing that "forced returns should be avoided."
Regarding illegal activities involving some Afghan citizens, Afridi acknowledged the need for the Pakistani government to take decisive action against individuals involved in unlawful activities.
However, he cautioned against stigmatizing the entire Afghan community for the actions of a few individuals.
"The focus should be on those engaged in illegal activities rather than holding the entire community responsible," Afridi stated.
On Wednesday, the caretaker federal cabinet has given the nod to repatriate around 1.1 million Afghan refugees who are living in the country illegally.
Nearly a million Afghans have flooded into Pakistan illegally since the Taliban took over Afghanistan.
