The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, Filippo Grandi, engaged in discussions with Pakistani authorities concerning the situation of Afghan refugees in the country.
In a statement on Tuesday, Mr. Grandi said that during his meeting with Pakistan’s Prime Minister, Shehbaz Sharif, they discussed the issue of Afghan refugees in Pakistan and ways to find “just and durable solutions” for them with the support of the international community.
According to a statement from Pakistan’s Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, Shehbaz Sharif said that Pakistan treats Afghan refugees with “exemplary respect and dignity,” despite encountering numerous challenges.
The Pakistan Prime Minister urged the international community to “recognize the burden being shouldered by Pakistan while hosting such a large refugee population and demonstrate collective responsibility.”
Meanwhile, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Pakistan stated that during his meeting with Ishaq Dar, Pakistan’s foreign minister, the UNHCR Chief expressed gratitude for Pakistan’s “generosity and hospitality” in hosting millions of Afghan refugees over the past several decades.
“Discussions were held on sustained cooperation for the well-resourced, safe, and dignified return of Afghan refugees and long term sustainable solutions,” the Pakistan foreign ministry said.
During his visit to Pakistan, the UN official also met with Afghan refugees in the country. “I spent time with Afghan refugees whose resourcefulness is testimony to their strength—and to Pakistan’s long hospitality,” Grandi said, adding that his visit aimed to “discuss how we can best support both amidst growing challenges.”
Pakistan has for decades hosted millions of refugees from Afghanistan, fleeing conflict, persecution, and unemployment at home. There are currently around 3.2 million refugees in Pakistan, of which over 1 million are registered and over 800,000 reside under other types of legal status.
The UNHCR chief’s visit to Pakistan comes amidst the country’s ongoing crackdown on Afghan refugees, which started last November. Since then, Pakistan has deported over 600,000 refugees back to Taliban-controlled Afghanistan.
Recently, the country initiated the second phase of refugee expulsions, aiming to deport around 840,000 Afghan Citizen Card holders issued during 2017 and 2018 to Afghan refugees, granting them legal refugee status in the country.
Pakistani authorities argue that undocumented refugees contribute significantly to insecurity and illegal activities in the country. They justify the crackdown as a counter-terrorism measure, citing a recent surge in security incidents.
