Afghan senators have condemned the decision of Pakistan to expel "illegal" Afghan refugees and immigrants by June 1, and called for the government to help resolve the issue using diplomatic channels.
Afghan refugees living in Pakistan's semi-autonomous region Kheybar Pakhtunkhuwa were given one month to either leave the country or they would risk facing detention, Pakistani media reported earlier this month.
The district administration in Peshawar had initially set May 25 as a deadline before local police would apprehend any Afghans without proper documents and deport them or detain them.
The senators said the decision is a response to the Afghan-US strategic pact signed on May 2, and recently approved by the Afghan parliament.
Members of the Senate's committee of the disabled, martyrs and refugees asked the government to intervene on behalf of the Afghans still living in refugee camps in Pakistan through diplomatic ways.
"Pakistan has warned Afghan refugees to leave the country by June 1. This decision is against the bilateral agreement signed between Afghanistan and Pakistan," Afghan Senator Abdul Baqi Baryal said.
"Based on our agreement, Afghan refugees have until December this year to leave the camps. This decision is causing us some concern."
Another committee member Nafisa Sultan said that Iran is also looking to expel Afghan refugees by force.
"Iran and Pakistan are forcefully trying to expel Afghan refugees, but we ask the parliaments of those countries to put pressure on the governments not to force Afghan refugees to leave the camps," she said. (Tolo News)
Afghan refugees living in Pakistan's semi-autonomous region Kheybar Pakhtunkhuwa were given one month to either leave the country or they would risk facing detention, Pakistani media reported earlier this month.
The district administration in Peshawar had initially set May 25 as a deadline before local police would apprehend any Afghans without proper documents and deport them or detain them.
The senators said the decision is a response to the Afghan-US strategic pact signed on May 2, and recently approved by the Afghan parliament.
Members of the Senate's committee of the disabled, martyrs and refugees asked the government to intervene on behalf of the Afghans still living in refugee camps in Pakistan through diplomatic ways.
"Pakistan has warned Afghan refugees to leave the country by June 1. This decision is against the bilateral agreement signed between Afghanistan and Pakistan," Afghan Senator Abdul Baqi Baryal said.
"Based on our agreement, Afghan refugees have until December this year to leave the camps. This decision is causing us some concern."
Another committee member Nafisa Sultan said that Iran is also looking to expel Afghan refugees by force.
"Iran and Pakistan are forcefully trying to expel Afghan refugees, but we ask the parliaments of those countries to put pressure on the governments not to force Afghan refugees to leave the camps," she said. (Tolo News)
Source : Afghan Voice Agency (AVA), International Service
