ISLAMABAD/ KABUL (SW): The Hezb-e-Islami party led by the former prime minister Gulbudin Hekmatyar is allegedly influencing Afghan refugees in Pakistan in regard to their repatriation.
Embassy of Afghanistan in Islamabad has been spearheading a campaign under the slogan of “Khpal Watan-Gul Watan" (Own Home, Sweet Home) to encourage the refugees return back to Afghanistan. Meanwhile, the Hezb-e-Islami with their Peshawar-based leadership is allegedly enticing the refugees not to rush with repatriation.
Stana Gul Ahmadzai, officer for refugee affairs at the Embassy of Afghanistan in Islamabad told Salam Watandar that the Hezb-i-Islami has its own agenda in this regard. He added that in the pretext of insecurity and economic hardships, the HI is luring the Afghans to stay as refugees in Pakistan. Stana Gul Ahmadzai futher said that this party has held corner meetings with the refugees, and is vigorously trying to influence their decision about their return to Afghanistan.
He noted that the Afghan refugees are living a life of compromises and sacrifice hence the Government of Afghanistan is encouraging them to return to their homeland. As per his knowledge, work is underway on a number of proposals to create enabling environment for the repatriated families in Afghanistan. The Afghan Embassy official claimed that the campaign launched by the HI against the process of repatriation would fail.
Mohammad Younus Fakoor, an analyst said in this regard that the Hezb-i-Islami is reaching a final peace deal with the government, and it wants to lead the repatriating families back into Afghanistan. He noted that the HI has on its demand list an article for land allocation for the refugees.
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