https://twitter.com/home https://www.facebook.com/Shabbir.Hussain191By Shabbir Hussain
ISLAMABAD, July 17 (Alliance News): The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) has urged Pakistan and Afghanistan to adopt a humanitarian approach and renew dialogue to ensure the safe, voluntary, and dignified return of Afghan refugees.
UNHCR spokesperson Qaiser Khan Afridi emphasized the need for constructive engagement between the two countries to facilitate informed and voluntary repatriation, while ensuring the sustainability of reintegration efforts amid the ongoing human rights crisis in Afghanistan.
“The Government and people of Pakistan have a commendable, decades-long history of hosting Afghans who fled conflict and violence in the past,” Afridi stated, acknowledging Pakistan’s generous support to Afghan refugees since the late 1970s.
The UN agency highlighted the dire situation in Afghanistan, particularly for women and girls, warning that some returnees could face serious threats to their lives. It reaffirmed its willingness to collaborate with the Pakistani government to address protection concerns and coordinate efforts that prioritize human rights and humanitarian values.
UNHCR stressed that returns must be voluntary, safe, and carried out with dignity, in accordance with international standards and obligations.
