Islamabad, June 18, 2019 (PPI-OT): Pakistan, Afghanistan and United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) on Tuesday unanimously agreed on a 12-point joint declaration on conclusion of 30th Tripartite Dialogue on safe and honourable repatriation of Afghan Refugees.
Minister for SAFRON Shehryar Afridi represented Pakistan while Afghanistan delegation was headed by Sayed Hussain Alemi Balkhi. UNHCR was represented by representative for the UN refugee agency in Pakistan, Ms. Ruvendrini Menikdiwela, UNHCR representative in Afghanistan Ms Caroline Van Burn and others.
According to the 12-point communiqué, the three parties expressed their commitment to extend the existing Tripartite Agreement Governing the Voluntary Repatriation of Afghan Citizens Living in Pakistan, pending approval by the Federal Cabinet of the Government of the Pakistan.
All three Parties to the Tripartite Agreement recalled that 2019 marks the fortieth year since the beginning of large-scale Afghan refugee displacement and appreciated the hospitality of the Government of Pakistan in providing continued protection to Afghan refugees for four decades.
The three parties reaffirmed their commitment to uphold the principle of voluntary repatriation, in safety and dignity, under the Tripartite Agreement; and urged enhanced efforts to create an environment conducive to voluntary return and sustainable reintegration in Afghanistan, and to continue supporting the host communities in Pakistan, within the framework of the Solutions Strategy for Afghan Refugees (SSAR); Expressed concern at the decrease in the voluntary repatriation grant provided to the Afghan refugees, and encouraged the international community to increase the cash grant to its previous level (approx. USD 400 per individual).
They also appreciated the progress achieved by the Government of Afghanistan in the development of the Policy Framework and Action Plan; the decision to implement the Comprehensive Refugee Response Framework (CRRF) which reaffirms the commitment to include refugee returnees in the National Priority Programs, particularly the Citizen’s Charter; as well as the enactment of the Presidential Decree on Land Allocation.
The parties called for continued support for the implementation of these initiatives; and requested that progress of these initiatives is shared with Afghan refugees in Pakistan, including through an awareness raising program, in order to enable them to make an informed decision to voluntarily return, with the facilitation of and in coordination with the host Government.
They welcomed the efforts of Afghanistan, UNHCR and other partners to promote targeted development interventions in “Priority Areas of Return and Reintegration” (PARRs) and called on the international community and development actors to support this important initiative with a view to enhancing absorption capacity and enabling sustainable reintegration of returning refugees through a whole-of-community approach, in a tangible and predictable manner, in line with the commitments enshrined in the Global Compact on Refugees and agreed to share periodic updates on the progress in the implementation of this initiative.
Later, addressing a joint press conference, Minister SAFRON Shehryar Afridi said it’s a big day for Pakistan, Iran, Afghanistan and UNHCR and for Afghan refugees that detailed deliberations were conducted to ensure respect and address their concerns and issues. He said Afghan President Dr Ashraf Ghani and Prime Minister Imran Khan also desired that Afghan refugees are facilitated and their honourable repatriation and rehabilitation is ensured.
“UNHCR plays a key role in facilitating this dialogue. Premier Imran Khan also has taken steps to facilitate the Afghan refugees and under the same spirit 1.4 million Afghan refugees are allowed to open bank accounts,” he added. Lauding the positive role played by Afghan Refugees Minister Mr Balkhi, Shehryar Afridi said that 68 percent of Afghan refugees are already integrated with mainstream Pakistani population while 32 percent were living in camps.
He said it is unfortunate to note that 85 percent refugees worldwide are being looked after by developing countries including Pakistan and it’s about time that the developed world need to come forth and play their role according to their international commitments and UN Conventions.
“We are carrying forward agenda of humanity. Pakistan has opened its doors for Refugees and we are hosting them over past 40 years but those countries who have signed UN conventions need to support Afghan refugees. We are following the spirit of Madinah state where Ansaar had sacrificed for Mohajireen of Makkah,” he added.
He said Minister Balkhi has invited him to visit Afghanistan and see for himself the facilitation provided to Afghan returnees for their sustained reintegration in Afghanistan. “Why the world needs a body of a child on a coast to wake up to the refugee issue. It’s about time that the nations who are silent spectators should come forth and extend support to Afghan refugees,” he said and added that the world needs to heal the wounds of refugees who have been suffering for the past forty years.
Responding to a question about giving nationality to Afghan refugees born in Pakistan, the minister said that Prime Minister said that the matter would be debated by all parties and then a decision would be taken after consensus. He said Iran, Afghanistan, Pakistan and UNHCR are on the same page on voluntary return of Afghan refugees and would continue supporting return of Afghan refugees.
We have urged UNHCR and donors to raise the transport support package for Afghan refugees, he added. Afghan Minister Sayed Hussain Balkhi fully endorsed whatever Minister Afridi had said, adding, “Mr Afridi is a man who has found a place in my heart”.
“I would like to government and people of Pakistan for forty years of providing generous hospitality to Afghan refugees. As mentioned by Minister Afridi, we held Quadripartite and tripartite meetings held in cordial and positive environment. Key issues were discussed. We agreed to the gradual and honourable return of Afghan refugees to their homeland and their sustainable reintegration into society,” he added.
Mr Balkhi said he had observed positive signs in bilateral relations between Pakistan and Afghanistan after the PTI government took reigns and President Ghani’s upcoming visit to Pakistan would be significant in resolving major issues and we look forward to it.
“Afghan government remains committed to voluntary and dignified return of Afghan refugees for sustained reintegration. In addition to our efforts, we made a plea to UNHCR to increase cash grant to enable Afghan refugees to return to their homeland. Let me thank the generous hospitality by Pakistan to Afghan refugees over the past forty years,” he added. He said since year 2001, 9.6 million Afghan refugees have returned home and over three million refugees returned in past few years.
“In 2016, 600,000 returned from Pakistan. Land allocation, affordable housing is also a part of our package for returning refugees. Last year, presidential decree was enacted for land distribution among returnees. We are raising capacity to absorb another 300,000 returnees in next few years,” he added.
He said Afghan Government would soon be launching a campaign to inform refugees living in Pakistan and Iran about its steps to absorb them back home and making their stay sustainable and honourable. “Unity is needed to take this region to stability and peace and we need to stand united to face the common challenges,” he concluded.
For more information, contact:
United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR)
Quaid-e-Azam University Road, Diplomatic Enclave 2,
Sector G-4/2, Islamabad
Tel: +92-51-2829502-6
Cell: +92-300-5017939
Fax: +92-51-2279455
E-mail:khand@unhcr.org
Website: www.unhcr.org.pk