The spokesperson of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) in Pakistan, Qaiser Afridi stressed Afghan refugee repatriation must be on a voluntary basis and must not be carried out forcefully.
With Pakistan currently facing economic challenges, Afridi emphasized the importance of international solidarity in managing the Afghan refugee crisis while advocating for a humane approach towards those seeking refuge.
“Pakistan is currently home to approximately 1.3 million registered Afghan refugees. Many of them arrived in Pakistan over the past two years due to deteriorating conditions in Afghanistan,” says Afridi
The spokesperson said that to address their registration and legal status, the UNHCR is preparing to develop a comprehensive action plan.
Afridi highlighted Pakistan’s financial constraints and called for increased international support to aid both the Afghan refugees and the host country.
He stressed the need for a responsible and dignified repatriation process for Afghan refugees, emphasizing that “forced returns should be avoided.”
