The federal cabinet on Wednesday approved a strategy for repatriation of Afghan refugees under a three-year phased programme. The repatriation process is being implemented with the concurrence of the Afghan President Hamid Karzai which was announced during the visit of Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz to Kabul.
Addressing the cabinet, the prime minister said that Pakistan has been hosting millions of Afghan refugees in a spirit of brotherhood during the period of their hardship and sufferings. He emphasised that Pakistan would like the Afghan refugees to return their homeland with dignity and honour and continue to facilitate their rehabilitation in their own homeland.
Shaukat Aziz said Pakistan would like the Afghan refugees' children to grow up in their own natural environment in their country and every possible help and assistance will be offered to the returning families.
Afghan refugees are being repatriated to Afghanistan in accordance with the principles of voluntarism and gradualism as embedded in the tripartite agreement of March 2003 signed by the GOP, Afghanistan and the UNHCR. Although about 2.857 million Afghan refugees have been repatriated since 2002 till date, about 2.498 million Afghans are still residing in Pakistan as on December 31, 2006.
The federal cabinet also approved, in principle, draft agreements and memorandums of understanding (MoUs) for defence co-operation with Spain, Egypt, Italy, Brazil, Jordan, Republic of Korea, Tajikistan, Kyrgyz Republic, Malaysia, and Uganda.
These agreements and MoUs cover co-operation in the field of military training, exchange of personnel, defence industry, and scientific and technological fields.
Commenting on a large number of agreements and MoUs approved by the cabinet, the prime minister described it as part of Pakistan's expanding defence diplomacy to foster military co-operation with friendly countries to promote international peace.
He said it was also a recognition of Pakistan's commitment to regional and international peace through enhanced co-operation in areas of military training and the acknowledgement of the professionalism of its defence forces.
The prime minister briefed the cabinet on the President's recent visit to Poland, Spain, Bosnia and Turkey, which he described as ground-breaking and informed the cabinet that these would result in enhanced bilateral co-operation with important members of the European Union.
Referring to his recent visit to China, Shaukat Aziz reiterated that the two countries enjoyed a strategic relationship that transcends all other considerations. He said this relationship was as robust as ever but his visit had added new vistas of co-operation between the two countries.
Interior Minister Aftab Ahmed Khan Sherpao informed the cabinet about his recent visit to Kabul in connection with the formation of the Jirga Commission between Pakistan and Afghanistan.
He said a delegation from Afghanistan would come to Pakistan to finalise modalities of the Jirga Commission, which would hold its meeting in Kabul in August this year. Food, Agriculture and Livestock Minister Sikandar Hayat Bosan informed the cabinet that the country was expecting record wheat crop this year, and the livestock production has also indicated encouraging results.
The cabinet condemned the terrorist attack in Charsadda and thanked Allah for saving the life of Interior Minister Aftab Ahmad Khan Sherpao. It also offered 'fateha' for the victims of the unfortunate incident and expressed sympathy with the injured persons.
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