ISLAMABAD: Afghan Second Vice President Danish Sarwar has said that they are thankful to Pakistan for hosting Afghan refugees for forty years.
Addressing a two-day Refugee Summit here on 40 years of hosting Afghan refugees in Pakistan on Monday, he said Pakistan played the role of a brotherly country by hosting millions of Afghan refugees. He said we cannot forget as to how Pakistan and Iran opened their doors for Afghan refugees.
The Afghan Second Vice President said his government wants repatriation of Afghan refugees; however, for that, end of the war is imperative.
Addressing the conference UN High Commissioner for Refugees Filippo Grandi said for the last 40 years, the people of Pakistan have stood with Afghan neighbors.
He said Pakistan’s solidarity to hosting refugees is admirable. However, he said, generosity does not come without cost, but it has impact on local economy, infrastructure and security.
The High Commissioner said international support to the Afghan refugees remained insufficient. He appealed to donors to lend support for development in Afghanistan.