Economic support will be the main attraction for the Afghan refugees' repatriation, said Indrika Ratwatte, Assistant Representative of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), Pakistan here on Thursday.
He was addressing at a seminar on "Encouraging and Assisting Afghan Refugees' Repatriation" at PPF media library. Growing trade between Pakistan and Afghanistan, which is about 1.2 billion this year and expected to increase by 40 percent, has shown stability in terms that the Afghan economy normalises supporting the repatriation process, he opined.
He said that repatriation only could be sustained if better facilities and financial help are provided to returnees. Ratwatte hailed the Pakistan government and the people for full support to the refugees, which provided them shelter, food and better economic opportunities after the defunct USSR's war and Taleban regime collapse, which brought about mass border crossing into Pakistan.
He informed that about 2.7 million repatriated in year 2005 and still three million are to be repatriated in coming years. He said the repatriation process now got momentum as of March 1 to June 7 there were 76,000 refugees repatriated.
According to statistics in 2005, refugees in camps made up 46 percent of all returnees, up from 43 percent in 2004, 26 percent in 2003 and 18 percent in 2002.
He said camp closure also had a direct impact on return to Afghanistan. While Kabul remained the top destination for returnees, which is 15 percent, border provinces like Nangarhar 14 percent, Khost 13 percent and Paktya 10 percent also received the bulk of the returning refugees.
He showed his regrets over cross allegation from Pakistan and Afghanistan because life on borders has normalised and people are peacefully visiting the two countries.
Ratwatte outlined the challenges to the UNHCR and the Pakistan government to encourage repatriation. He proposed that the Karzai government should take initiative for the smooth exit refugees. In Afghanistan, 67 percent of the people lack land and shelter, and about 25 percent have no livelihood opportunities. He suggested that the returnees should have to be targeted in the development process.
To a question he disagreed with the idea that by supporting the Afghan refugees Pakistan got a bad name in the international community. He said supporting and sharing problems of the refugees, the Pakistan government and the people earned a good name.
Answering another question he said there was no curb on the free movement of Afghanis across borders, the UNHCR just wanted to register the refugees in Pakistan and those people who are regularly crossing borders should register themselves.
He said the UNHCR just wanted to register the refugees in the country and in this respect with the collaboration of the Pakistan government they have started registration process. A MoU had been signed and the UNHCR had provided 600 million dollars for the purpose.
To another question why should Afghans return to their country where a coalition war still raging and daily number of people killed. He said Afghans are well aware of this situation and despite that they are returning to their homeland.
Ratwatte maintained that a large number of refugees returned on volunteer repatriation programme.
The governments of Pakistan and Afghanistan and the UNHCR agreed in August 2005 to extend the Tripartite Agreement beyond the March 2006 expiry date. The agreement, which regulates the voluntary repatriation of Afghans, will now expire in December 2006. This gives Afghans more time to return home under the existing repatriation programme.
In his speech Brigadier Abid Haider Kazmi, Director General, Provincial Headquarters, NADRA said the government had started registration process this year and about eight to 10 weeks to be spent on this process.
He said vans and mobile centers are working on the task. He informed that an information campaign has been carried out with the help of the Pakistan government and the UNHCR.
Brigadier Kazmi said the proof of registration provided to all Afghanis over the age of five years is valid for three years. He said that biometrics system has been introduced for the registration process because in the past the refugees claim incentives again and again from aid agencies but after the registration process no re-claim would be made.
Ms Vivian Tan, Senior Public Information Officer, UNHCR, Islamabad also spoke on the occasion. She said that at present it is unrealistic to repatriate all Afghan refugees because people who are living for 25 years have their business and relations. She also said the UNHCR provided the refugees with food and non-food items to support the refugees who have returned to Afghanistan.