Two million Afghans still living in Pakistan: UN

[Neo]

Two million Afghans still living in Pakistan: UN​

* Officials say repatriation process slow
* Say average 600 to 800 families leave Jalozai camp for Afghanistan every day​

PESHAWAR: Around two million registered Afghan refugees are still living in Pakistan due to slow the repatriation process under the Voluntary Repatriation Programme of the United Nations (UN).

More than three million refugees have returned to their country since March 2002 from all over Pakistan, said UN Spokesman Babar Baloch, although officials at the Refugees’ Commissioner also admitted that the process was slow.

Baloch said that the repatriation process would continue until the end of October from two Voluntary Repatriation Centres (VRCs) set up by the UN at Hayatabad in Peshawar and Baleli in Quetta. Asked about the repatriation process, Refugees’ Commissioner Dr Imran Zeb told Daily Times that the process was slow. The surge seen in repatriation in recent days was due to the closure of Jalozai refugee camp, he added.

About complaints of forced expulsion from Jalozai by some refugees’ elders, Dr Imran said that the government was sticking to the gradual, peaceful and dignified repatriation of refugees to their country. He said that those living at Jalozai had been given the option to move to other locations if they were not willing to go to their country.

Jalazoi camp: “Jalozai camp has to be closed and there is no other option,” he said, adding that an average 600 to 800 families were leaving for Afghanistan from Jalozai on daily basis.

Maulvi Abdul Ahad Jawad, an elder at Jalozai camp, said that electricity and water supply had been suspended at two points in the oldest camp. Jawad also claimed that the security officials had stopped flour supply to the camp. He said that those moving to Afghanistan were carrying bags of flour with them due to shortage of the commodity there.

However, the refugees’ commissioner denied power cuts. He said that power outages were common all over the country and there was no complaint about suspension of water supply. Giving details about the repatriation from Jalozai camp, UN spokesperson in Peshawar Rabia Ali told Daily Times that 5,755 refugee families consisting of 30,792 individuals had so far returned to Afghanistan, via the VRC at Hayatabad.

She said that more than 73,000 families had returned to Afghanistan since March 1 from all over the country. Asked about final date for the closure of Jalozai camp, she said that April 15 was agreed earlier and no fresh date had since been given. She said that there was no demolition of houses at Jalozai. Those leaving the camp were razing their houses themselves and either selling the building material or taking it to Afghanistan with them, she added.

Daily Times - Leading News Resource of Pakistan

 

[roadrunner]

This scheme of repatriation (which isn't forced as some articles mentioned) is hopeless. Paying people to go to Afghanistan will only lead to them returning. There needs to be stability in Afghanistan, then they will go back fr good. Basically everything foreign should leave there, including the Taliban ideology which is a foreign ideology to Afghanistan.

 

[Vinod2070]

This scheme of repatriation (which isn't forced as some articles mentioned) is hopeless. Paying people to go to Afghanistan will only lead to them returning. There needs to be stability in Afghanistan, then they will go back fr good. Basically everything foreign should leave there, including the Taliban ideology which is a foreign ideology to Afghanistan.

May be they should go back to the days of the Gandhara civilization. That will be the ultimate leaving out of "foreign" influence.

Total peace, no invasions of other countries, no "But Shikan" business and destructions of religious places!

Just a thought.

 

[roadrunner]

May be they should go back to the days of the Gandhara civilization. That will be the ultimate leaving out of "foreign" influence.

Total peace, no invasions of other countries, no "But Shikan" business and destructions of religious places!

Just a thought.

Gandhara was quite a tolerant place as far as the history is known about it. It was from where Buddhism eventually arose, so it must have been pretty tolerant, unlike some other places I could mention.

 

[Vinod2070]

Gandhara was quite a tolerant place as far as the history is known about it. It was from where Buddhism eventually arose, so it must have been pretty tolerant, unlike some other places I could mention.

I wholeheartedly agree with that.

That's why I wrote that post.

But may be being so much peacenics cost them dear as they had no answer to the fire and iron of the invaders.

 

[roadrunner]

I wholeheartedly agree with that.

That's why I wrote that post.

But may be being so much peacenics cost them dear as they had no answer to the fire and iron of the invaders.

Nobody invaded the Ancient Pakistani civilization of Gandhara. Instead, it gave rise to other civilizations in the Indus Valley and Afghanistan. No cost, you see!

 

[Vinod2070]

Nobody invaded the Ancient Pakistani civilization of Gandhara. Instead, it gave rise to other civilizations in the Indus Valley and Afghanistan. No cost, you see!

Oh no, not again! We have been through this many times.

 

[Neo]

This scheme of repatriation (which isn't forced as some articles mentioned) is hopeless. Paying people to go to Afghanistan will only lead to them returning. There needs to be stability in Afghanistan, then they will go back fr good. Basically everything foreign should leave there, including the Taliban ideology which is a foreign ideology to Afghanistan.

I agree.
What needs to be done is to fence and mine the border once they leave and bring it under surveilliance 24/7. Its a cosltly job but millions of Afghan crippling our economy and destabalising it is much more costlier.

 

[x_man]

Although not refugees, but there are millions of Pakistanis who chose to leave their country at their will for better prospects outside. I don’t think that there is any part of the world where one doesn’t come across any Pakistani Immigrant. Majority of these immigrants were given nationality, identity, jobs , all sort of legal rights and full freedom to excel and they became the part of their society and now we can see that their 3rd or 4th generation is prospering.

However, since 1947, the only people who came to Pakistan in large numbers, were the poor , war ridden , battered Afghanis who has lost everything they belonged and came to Pakistan in a hope to recollect their lives. They have been living here for last 25 years or so , with their 3rd generation in progress, but isn’t it a dilemma that we still we treat them like aliens , refused to give them nationality , reused many rights and always willing to throw them out of Pakistan. Many of them are well settled here with running successful businesses and have become the part of the culture. If we say that they have created many problems for us, but then who hasn’t ?? Are they the root cause of all our problems and issues, are they the reason for all our miseries ?? I DONT THINK SO.

While we Pakistanis love to enjoy all the perks of the prosperity by immigrating in other countries, why do we become so tight arsed when someone else tries to build their future in our country. After living here for 25 years, why do we still like to treat these like crap ...BTW don’t forget the Muslim connection too.

One thing is certain that Afghanistan is not going to be free and peaceful for next many many years....wouldn’t it be better that we at least let the ones live here who are already settled and living here and accept them once for all ......And at the same time do all efforts to secure our western borders and ensure that no more refugees arrive as we are not in a capacity to welcome anymore miseries because have ample of our own...

 

[roadrunner]

Although not refugees, but there are millions of Pakistanis who chose to leave their country at their will for better prospects outside. I don’t think that there is any part of the world where one doesn’t come across any Pakistani Immigrant. Majority of these immigrants were given nationality, identity, jobs , all sort of legal rights and full freedom to excel and they became the part of their society and now we can see that their 3rd or 4th generation is prospering.

However, since 1947, the only people who came to Pakistan in large numbers, were the poor , war ridden , battered Afghanis who has lost everything they belonged and came to Pakistan in a hope to recollect their lives. They have been living here for last 25 years or so , with their 3rd generation in progress, but isn’t it a dilemma that we still we treat them like aliens , refused to give them nationality , reused many rights and always willing to throw them out of Pakistan. Many of them are well settled here with running successful businesses and have become the part of the culture. If we say that they have created many problems for us, but then who hasn’t ?? Are they the root cause of all our problems and issues, are they the reason for all our miseries ?? I DONT THINK SO.

While we Pakistanis love to enjoy all the perks of the prosperity by immigrating in other countries, why do we become so tight arsed when someone else tries to build their future in our country. After living here for 25 years, why do we still like to treat these like crap ...BTW don’t forget the Muslim connection too.

One thing is certain that Afghanistan is not going to be free and peaceful for next many many years....wouldn’t it be better that we at least let the ones live here who are already settled and living here and accept them once for all ......And at the same time do all efforts to secure our western borders and ensure that no more refugees arrive as we are not in a capacity to welcome anymore miseries because have ample of our own...

Good stuff x-man Finally, a non-internet battered person's opinion, or at least one not overly sensitive and gullible to such internet con games. I would say a very pragmatic opinion.

 

[salman nedian]

Although not refugees, but there are millions of Pakistanis who chose to leave their country at their will for better prospects outside. I don’t think that there is any part of the world where one doesn’t come across any Pakistani Immigrant. Majority of these immigrants were given nationality, identity, jobs , all sort of legal rights and full freedom to excel and they became the part of their society and now we can see that their 3rd or 4th generation is prospering.

However, since 1947, the only people who came to Pakistan in large numbers, were the poor , war ridden , battered Afghanis who has lost everything they belonged and came to Pakistan in a hope to recollect their lives. They have been living here for last 25 years or so , with their 3rd generation in progress, but isn’t it a dilemma that we still we treat them like aliens , refused to give them nationality , reused many rights and always willing to throw them out of Pakistan. Many of them are well settled here with running successful businesses and have become the part of the culture. If we say that they have created many problems for us, but then who hasn’t ?? Are they the root cause of all our problems and issues, are they the reason for all our miseries ?? I DONT THINK SO.

While we Pakistanis love to enjoy all the perks of the prosperity by immigrating in other countries, why do we become so tight arsed when someone else tries to build their future in our country. After living here for 25 years, why do we still like to treat these like crap ...BTW don’t forget the Muslim connection too.

One thing is certain that Afghanistan is not going to be free and peaceful for next many many years....wouldn’t it be better that we at least let the ones live here who are already settled and living here and accept them once for all ......And at the same time do all efforts to secure our western borders and ensure that no more refugees arrive as we are not in a capacity to welcome anymore miseries because have ample of our own...

Afghanis unfortunately are involved in illegal and criminal activities in Pakistan also we are seeing the behavior of Hamid Karzai as he lived his life here and now he is barking at us.

IMO if we have to accept them and after facing so many hardships for them than there must be some reward for liberating them from Russia and hosting them; So Afghan Pushton areas should become part of Pakistan.

 

[roadrunner]

Afghanis unfortunately are involved in illegal and criminal activities in Pakistan also we are seeing the behavior of Hamid Karzai as he lived his life here and now he is barking at us.

No evidence that Afghan refugees, who are essentially quarantined in camps are anymore prone to illegal/criminal activities than any other Pakistani. Also, what the hell has Hamid Karzai got to do with the ordinary Afghan refugees who didn't even vote in what was an illusionary election? If Hu Jintao says something negative about Pakistan, do you end up hating Chinese people? Or if the Pakistani government criticizes the USA, should Bush then deport all the Pakistanis living in America. Your logic is abysmal and horrendously childish.

IMO if we have to accept them and after facing so many hardships for them than there must be some reward for liberating them from Russia and hosting them; So Afghan Pushton areas should become part of Pakistan.

Such selfish reasoning! As the USA helped Pakistan defend itself from the Soviets by providing F-16, should Pakistan have owed the US something? Again intellectually bankrupt reasoning. Pakistan helped Afghanistan, and USA helped Pakistan (so did Saudi). If we're all saying payment should be made, then Pakistan would have to make the most repayments from the Afghan_Soviet war.

It's this simple. Pakistan helped Afghanistan for it's own interests during the Afghan-Soviet war. Pakistan could not have cared less about Afghanistan otherwise. Even the Taliban were supported by Pakistan for it's own interests. See, noone needs repaying. Since all these countries acted in their interests. Even Pakistan. You fail to see this from any point of view, other than your own, which is a horrifically one-sided viewpoint.

 

[salman nedian]

Such selfish reasoning! As the USA helped Pakistan defend itself from the Soviets by providing F-16, should Pakistan have owed the US something? Again intellectually bankrupt reasoning. Pakistan helped Afghanistan, and USA helped Pakistan (so did Saudi). If we're all saying payment should be made, then Pakistan would have to make the most repayments from the Afghan_Soviet war.

It's this simple. Pakistan helped Afghanistan for it's own interests during the Afghan-Soviet war. Pakistan could not have cared less about Afghanistan otherwise. Even the Taliban were supported by Pakistan for it's own interests. See, noone needs repaying. Since all these countries acted in their interests. Even Pakistan. You fail to see this from any point of view, other than your own, which is a horrifically one-sided viewpoint.

US did not help Pakistan; they utilized us in Afghanistan.

Secondly the voice of ‘Pakhtoonistan’ has always been raised by Afghans not Pakistanis, what about that?

Thirdly do you see any harm in Afghan areas joining Pakistan?

 

[asad ikram]

B][/B]
what the hell is going in pakistan that afganies which are the hidden enemy of pakistan. they are now working for RAW,MOSSAD ,CIA and some other intelligence agencies of other countries .They are involving in spreading terror and terrorist activities .i think that we had done a big mistake for opening our north border for afganeze .if we want to finish the terrorist activities ,we should seal and should mining with bombs along the north /south border. this is the main gate of terror in pakistan if we seal that border i hope that terrorist activities will reduce quickly.

 

[salman nedian]

Pakistan was one of the safest countries of the world. I remember in 1990 (then I used to live in F.B.Area) few robbers robbed a shop at water pump (area in Karachi) and every one was amazed that how can it happen? But now there are robberies, street crimes every where and people have accepted them as a routine; most of the times Afghanis are found involved in it.