Report in TOLOnews Online, Oct 31, 2023 at 8:52 PM
Politicians, religious scholars and influential ethnic leaders gathered in Kabul and called Pakistan’s decision to expel Afghan refugees “unjust”.
Participants of the gathering asked the Pakistani government to reconsider their decision and stop the deportation of Afghan refugees.
“It will be best if Pakistan’s government recognizes the problem and reverses its decision and lets the Afghan refugees return voluntarily, with dignity and based on the agreement of Afghanistan and Pakistan,” said Syed Akbar Agha, head of the Rah-e-Nejat Council of Afghanistan.
“Let Pakistan do what it wants, but we suggest that the friendship between the peoples of the two countries should not be ended,” said Gul Rahman Qazi, a university lecturer.
The participants further added that forced expulsion of Afghan refugees will affect the bilateral Kabul-Islamabad relations and that the country should act in line with international laws as for as Afghan refugees are concerned.
“Pakistan would be divided in four parts had the former Soviet entered Pakistan; they [Pakistan] know this — that their military power cannot protect their country. Pakistan should be friendly with its neighbors,” said Muhammad Zaman Muzamel, a university lecturer.
Afghan politicians and influential figures also asked the Islamic Emirate to send a delegation to Pakistan to address the problems of Afghan refugees.
“I suggest that the Islamic Emirate send a special delegation to Pakistan to address the problems of Afghan refugees and convince Pakistan’s government to reverse its decision,” said Sayed Hussain Alemi Balkhi, former Minister of Refugees and Repatriation.
The national and international-level requests to reverse the decision by the Pakistani government comes as today (October 31) is the deadline set by Pakistan for illegal refugees’ return.
Pakistan is ready to begin forced repatriation of illegal refugees on November 2, it has announced.
https://tolonews.com/afghanistan-185814
