Daily Times

ISLAMABAD: Lieutenant General (R) Abdul Qadir Baloch, Federal Minister for States and Frontier Regions (SAFRON) on Monday reiterated that further extension of Afghan refugee’s voluntary repatriation is under consideration and final decision will be taken by federal cabinet shortly.

He was exclusively talking with Daily Times here on Monday.

“Pakistan and Afghanistan are discussing the voluntary repatriation of Afghan Refugees from Pakistan to Afghanistan. It is the commitment of Pakistan that they were our guests and they will not forcefully sent back to their homeland”, minister maintained. He said that in the areas of Afghanistan where security situation has been improving and voluntary return back of refugees to these areas will be ensured. But, Pakistan is aware that presently security situation is not stable on the whole inn Afghanistan” Baloch said.

Minister for SAFRON said that very soon an Afghan delegation would visit Pakistan to discuss the issue in detail so that the matter of voluntary repatriation will be finalized.

In recent past an Afghan delegation also visited in which the return of Afghan refugees to their country was discussed, the minister said, adding Afghan authorities want to increase the dateline for the repatriation of refugees from here. On the question that in recent interview with Daily Times, Afghan Ambassador blamed that Pakistani police and other security authorities are badly treating with Afghan refugees in Pakistan, Baloch said that some people also residing here illegally and they are not registered with UNHCR as refugees and residing without valid documents. They are also treated according to the law of the land, he opined. He said that government will take strong action against those foreigners residing in Pakistan illegally and people who have the status of legal refugees, they don’t need to worry.