Islamabad (TDI): The Afghan Embassy’s Refugee Affair’s Attaché met with the Chief Commissioner for Afghan Refugees, Muhammad Abbas Khan, in Islamabad to discuss serious issues involving Afghan nationals in Pakistan.
The discussions focused on recent alleged incidents of harassment, incarceration, and terrorism claims against Afghan refugees.
The Afghan diplomat pointed out the importance of fair treatment and protection for refugees, citing the worrisome nature of these instances.
In response, the Chief Commissioner assured that the charges would be dropped and that preventative steps would be put in place to prevent similar incidents in the future.
Both parties also discussed ongoing steps to ensure the welfare and safety of the Afghan refugees.
During the meeting, the Afghan diplomat stressed the need of abiding to international refugee protection principles.
He highlighted the importance of collaborative efforts to foster trust and address concerns through meaningful discussion.
The Chief Commissioner reaffirmed Pakistan’s commitment to these objectives and underlined a fair and reasonable approach to refugee-related situations.
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Unlike many other countries with large refugee populations, Pakistan has experienced a little conflict between refugees and locals by allowing the refugees relatively free movement within the country.
Afghans are permitted to work and use several other avenues to profit from their freedom.
Since the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan in 1979, Pakistan has been a home to millions of Afghan refugees, making it one of the world’s largest host countries.
Currently, Pakistan has an estimated 1.3 million registered Afghan refugees and a large number of undocumented residents.
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The Afghan Attaché and Chief Commissioner agreed to improve coordination between Pakistani officials and Afghan representatives.
Both sides expressed hope about improved mechanisms to ensure refugee care in accordance with Pakistan’s legal frameworks and humanitarian duties.
