Daily Times

In a surprising move that has been termed as a positive development by geostrategic experts, the Afghan government has launched a national campaign to persuade its citizens to return home. This is the first instance in the last two decades the Afghan government has formally launched a campaign to encourage its citizens to leave their refugee life in Pakistan. The announcement comes ahead of the meeting of the tripartite commission consisting of Pakistan, Afghanistan and the UNHCR scheduled this week to discuss the future of millions of refugees living in Pakistan. Afghanistan’s ministry of frontiers, nations and tribal affairs and its diplomatic mission in Peshawar have jointly launched the campaign titled Khpal Watan, aimed at convincing their countrymen to end refugee life and return to Afghanistan. The Afghan government has directed its diplomatic mission in Pakistan to disseminate the campaign through media.

Addressing the Afghan refugees, Afghan consulate general Dr Abdullah Waheen Poyan said that Afghanistan needs your contribution in the peace process. Come back and take part in the reconstruction of Afghanistan. The Afghan government and the UNHCR are stressing for the voluntary repatriation of refugees. But the Pakistani delegation is likely to take the plea that they are not ready to allow refugees to continue their stay beyond December 2016, when the three groups meet at the tripartite commission meeting this week.

This could prove to be a critical point for the peace process in Afghanistan, and all the stakeholders including the US, UN, Pakistan, as well as China and India, should back the repatriation of refugees back to their country. These refugees will need opportunities to establish their lives in their country, and that is where the role of the international powers is necessary. Efforts should be made to provide people returning to Afghanistan with housing, education, health facilities and job opportunities so that they can contribute towards the reconstruction of their homeland while being eased back into their old lives or new plans. These efforts are necessary so that the returning Afghans do not become a victim of conflict between disparate warring groups and government.

Although the UNHCR is giving $400 to every returning refugee, the amount is not enough. Not only will the UN agency need to increase the amount, but also formulate a comprehensive policy for the settlement of returning citizens. The massive exercise would require all the stakeholders in the peace process in Afghanistan to generously contribute to make the rehabilitation of refugees successful.

Although Pakistan has extended Afghan refugees stay for six months until December 2016, Islamabad’s stance on the issue has hardened in recent times. Islamabad has alleged that the refugee camps were being for subversive activities. Therefore, Islamabad should appreciate the announcement from the Afghan government, and put in sincere efforts for the repatriation of Afghan citizens living in Pakistan for more than two decades. For this purpose, the 27th meeting of tripartite commission holds additional importance to the future of refugees, and Pakistan and Afghanistan along with the UNHCR should create a conducive environment to facilitate the return of refugees to their country. *