PESHAWAR (SW): The Afghan diplomatic mission in Pakistan has advised refugees to brace for return to Afghanistan by spring this year.
Last month, the government in Pakistan gave one month’s notice to over two million Afghan refugees to leave the country. A number of political commentators in both the countries labelled it as politicization of a humanitarian issue.
Moin Mrastyal, Counselor General in Peshawar, told Salam Watandar that the government in Pakistan has only directed the refugees to prepare for return, and has not announced they would be expelled. He said the Ambassador of Afghanistan in Pakistan Hazral Omar Zakhilwal has met the officials of the United Nations High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR) and the Pakistani officials, and has asked for readiness for repatriation starting from end of March.
The Conselor General said Afghan refugees are weary about the short time available for them to prepare for repatriation.
Malak Awal Khan, leader of the Afghan refugees in Peshawar, said in this regard that soon a meeting would take place with the chief minister of Khyber Pakthunkwa province, Parveez Khatak, in a bid to extend the deadline.
Hafeez Ahmad, spokesman for the Ministry of Refugees and Repatriation, told Salam Watandar no direct talks have taken place with relevant officials from Pakistan on this matter. He added diplomatic efforts are underway to extend the stay of the refugees. The MoRR spokesman went on to say preparations are in full swing to receive and properly integrate the refugees.
Pakistan announced not to extend the stay of Afghan refugees after the U.S. President Donald Trump accused Pakistan of “lies and deceit,” saying the US was “foolish” to have given the country more than $33bn in aid
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