“And we have agreed with them to do our best to enhance the programme of
voluntary repatriation.” Afghans have sought safety in Pakistan ever
since the Soviet invasion in 1979.
Pakistan hosts the world’s biggest population of refugees. Some 1.7 million
are registered as refugees with thousands more living under the radar.
However, Pakistan’s weak economic record and widespread armed insurgencies
have meant Afghans have regularly been made scapegoats for the country’s
ills.
Rehman Malik, the country’s interior minister, has repeatedly accused the
refugee population of being a source of terrorism.
With the conflict in Afghanistan showing no signs of easing and with
international forces withdrawing in 2014, the numbers of refugees returning
are on the wane.
In December, the UNHCR’s Afghanistan representative admitted that its strategy
in the war-wracked country was “the biggest mistake UNHCR ever made”.
“It was concentrated on support to families returning,” said Mr
Guterres.
“And this was not the most important factor. The most important factor
was whether the conditions on the ground were there to be sustainable and
successful.” He said a new policy – concentrating on giving support to
communities to which families where returning – had been agreed with
Afghanistan, Pakistan and Iran, and would be presented to donors in May.
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