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PR. No. 291/2009
Date: 29/07/2009
MINISTER OF STATES AND FRONTIER REGIONS HOLDS TALKS WITH AFGHANISTAN AND UNHCR FOR REPATRIATION OF AFGHAN REFUGEES
The Minister of States and Frontier Regions, Mr. Najmuddin Khan has emphasized for effective measures to ensure sustainable voluntary repatriation of Afghan refugees. He said this in Kabul yesterday while leading the Pakistan delegation to the 17 th Session of the Tripartite Commission on Afghan refugees between Pakistan , Afghanistan and UNHCR.
The Pakistan delegation, led by Minister Najmuddin Khan, visited Kabul from 27-29 July 2009 to attend the Tripartite Commission meeting. During the visit, the Minister also held bilateral talks with his counterpart, Mr. Abdul Karim Brahawi, the Afghan Minister for Refugees and Repatriation.
The 17 th Tripartite Commission meeting undertook a comprehensive review of the situation of Afghan refugees in Pakistan and their repatriation to Afghanistan . The Minister highlighted hospitality Pakistan had continued to extend to Afghan refugees for the past three decades. He said that Pakistan still had around 1.7 million registered Afghan refugees, in addition to a large number of unregistered Afghan refugees.
SAFRON Minister stressed on close cooperation between Pakistan , Afghanistan and UNHCR for a comprehensive strategy of voluntary repatriation of refugees. This required creating conducive conditions in Afghanistan for resettlement and reintegration.
The Tripartite Commission meeting reaffirmed commitment to voluntary, gradual, safe and dignified repatriation. It emphasized the need for strengthening reintegration programmes within Afghanistan 's development strategy.
The meeting agreed in principle to document and manage the movement of people from Afghanistan to Pakistan , and their temporary stay in Pakistan . It was agreed to devise modalities including facilitation of visa regimes through bilateral consultations.
Kabul
29 July 2009
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