Pakistan vows to help Afghan refugees return home

Arab News Pakistan
Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi chairing a federal cabinet meeting on Feb. 20, 2018. (Photo courtesy: Press Information Department)

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s federal cabinet has vowed to extend all possible help toward the voluntary repatriation of Afghan refugees.
A meeting chaired by Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi on Tuesday evening discussed in detail the issue of repatriation.
“The cabinet considered various recommendations for addressing the issue of Afghan refugees,” the Prime Minister’s Office said in a statement without sharing any details about the proposals.
“It was emphasized that the international community should also fulfill its obligations toward shouldering this responsibility to ensure smooth repatriation and rehabilitation of the refugees.”
According to Pakistani officials, there are currently 1.4 million registered, and an equal number of unregistered, Afghan citizens living in Pakistan.
Pakistan has consistently maintained that Afghan refugees must be encouraged to return to their homeland through the creation of necessary “pull factors” by the Afghan government.
The Pakistani cabinet earlier this month granted a 60-day stay extension for Afghan refugees. The new deadline is on March 31.