Deal to return Afghan refugees

More than 1.5 million refugees have already returned

Pakistan and Afghanistan have finalised an agreement to repatriate more than 1.8 million refugees living in Pakistan.

The deal, agreed with United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), will be signed in Geneva next month.

Many of the refugees live in poor conditions

According to Pakistani Mminister for Refugee Affairs, Aftab Ahmed Sherpao, the tripartite agreement will mean at least 400,000 Afghans being repatriated every year over the next three years.

Afghan Minister for Refugees and Repatriation Inayatullah Nazari said his war-ravaged country would need enormous assistance from the world community to help reintegrate the refugees.

More than 1.6 million Afghans have already returned from Pakistan since March but more than 1.8 million remain.

Reluctance

The number of returnees has declined dramatically because of the start of winter and the Afghan Government's inability to provide basic facilities.

The UNHCR says 600,000 may return in 2003, but many others in Pakistan may be reluctant because of fears for their safety and economic security.

Mr Sherpao said refugees would continue to recieve humanitarian assistance while in Pakistan and added: "Pakistan will ensure that refugees return voluntarily."

Afghan officials in Islamabad say the repatriation agreement had been finalised but it will be signed in Geneva to ensure maximum commitment from the international community in the rehabilitation efforts.

Reservations

Since January this year, more than 1.5 million refugees have returned voluntarily with the assistance of the UNHCR.

Afghanistan may not be ready for speedy return

The Afghan Government had initially expressed some reservations about the speedy repatriation of refugees - largely due to fears that their proper rehabilitation may not be possible.

During the last two decades Pakistan has provided shelter to nearly three million Afghan refugees.

Most of them were forced to leave their homes following the Soviet occupation of Afghanistan and the subsequent civil wars between the rival Afghan factions.