The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) office for Afghanistan has called on Iran and Pakistan to treat Afghan refugees appropriately.
Arafat Jamal, head of UNHCR for Afghanistan, stated: “We need the countries to cooperate. We want countries to work together systematically so that we have an orderly and dignified and generous repatriation. We appeal to the parties to come together to discuss and to do this in harmony. We also appeal to our donors who have supported us over the years, to not let up now. This country can be a prosperous country.”
Meanwhile, a number of Afghan refugees living in Pakistan have once again called on the Pakistani government to stop the forced deportation of Afghan refugees.
“Our children were born here, they are not familiar with Afghanistan, and their education will remain incomplete. Besides, we have worked here all our lives and own assets which remain here,” said Enayat Shams, an Afghan refugee in Pakistan.
“Afghan refugees in Islamabad and Rawalpindi have businesses; we’ve worked here for forty years and cannot relocate all at once,” said Shaheen Zakhil, representative of Afghan refugees in Pakistan.
At the same time, the Ministry of Economy has announced that the Islamic Emirate will support returning refugees and is working to provide education, employment opportunities, and resettlement for those deported from Pakistan.
Abdul Latif Nazari, deputy minister of economy, stated: “The Islamic Emirate’s measures for returning refugees include housing and shelter, health and hygiene care, and essential needs such as education and employment. We ask host countries to treat our dear refugees with patience and uphold human dignity.”
According to statistics from UNHCR for Afghanistan, since September 2023, 900,000 Afghans have returned to Afghanistan from Pakistan.