Granting citizenship to Afghan refugees is Pakistan’s internal matter – UNHCR

[PradoTLC]

Granting citizenship to Afghan refugees is Pakistan’s internal matter – UNHCR

SIB KAIFEE

February 17, 2020

ISLAMABAD: The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) made it clear on Monday that granting citizenship to Afghan refugees is in the Pakistani government’s discretion, as Islamabad has already done much in the past four decades for the world’s second-largest displaced community.

“That is a matter for the Pakistani government to discuss,” UN High Commissioner for Refugees Filippo Grandi told Arab News on the sidelines of an ongoing international summit – 40 Years of Hosting Afghan Refugees in Pakistan – held in Islamabad.

“In general, the measures that have been taken without reaching that level (offering Pakistani citizenship to refugees) have been very positive,” Grandi added, referring to Pakistan’s efforts to provide shelter, protection, and other facilities to persons displaced by conflict in Afghanistan.

Pakistan hosts over 1.4 million Afghan refugees registered with UNHCR, but many others are not registered. It is estimated that some 2 million Afghans have been living in Pakistan.

A citizenship pledge to refugees was made by Prime Minister Imran Khan in 2018, shortly after assuming office. “Afghans whose children have been raised and born in Pakistan will be granted citizenship, inshallah (God willing) because this is the established practice in countries around the world,” he said at the time.

“They are humans. How come we have deprived them and have not arranged for offering them a national identification card and passport for 30 years, 40 years?”

Refugees still hope the premier will deliver on his promise.

Pakistan’s former ambassador to Afghanistan, Rustum Shah, told Arab News that Pakistan should grant the refugees nationality after four decades of hosting them.

“Afghan refugees would continue to stay here. As long as there is no reconciliation there is no peace,” Shah said adding that forced repatriation would be wrong.

“The government of Pakistan must consider giving them nationality now because they have been here for 40 years,” the retired diplomat said.

There was also a video (54 seconds) where the UNHCR talks a bit more about the situation than what is written in the article above.

The video however could not be embedded here.

See the link below for the video.

https://www.arabnews.pk/node/1629221/pakistan

we should send them to india,

 

[Pakistani Fighter]

Biharis are citizens of Bangladesh and should be taken care of by them. We should not have to deal with their problems. They should have been nationalized long ago.

Biharis fought for Pakistan in 1971. Afghans fought for Pakistan when?

 

[Pan-Islamic-Pakistan]

Biharis fought for Pakistan in 1971. Afghans fought for Pakistan when?

Last one thousand years.

 

[Pakistani Fighter]

Last one thousand years.

Even Indian Muslims then fought for Pakistan

 

[Pan-Islamic-Pakistan]

Even Indian Muslims then fought for Pakistan

And today they are allergic to Pakistan. Times change.

 

[Sheikh Rauf]

along with afghani we need to kick out all those who came from india after 1970 believe me they are also in millions these unthankful made Mohajir qomi movment and if we allow afghani they will make Afghan mohajir qomi movment. send all of them home and then ask them to appy from afghanistan.

 

[Pakistani Fighter]

And today they are allergic to Pakistan. Times change.

Same with Afghans

 

[Pan-Islamic-Pakistan]

How can afghanistan merge with Pakistan when a lot of them are pro-indian and anti-Pakistani to the core?

You are talking about Kabulies, Tajiks, and Shias. It doesn't apply to all Afghans.

I have nothing against afghans but I don't understand their anti-Pakistani sentiment and their worship of Kuffar, Idol-Worshipping indians. Especially after all we have done for them for over 40 years. Funny how the Afghans love the americans and the rest of Nato even when they destroy Afghanistan, mass murder afghan citizens and enslave them. The afghans still don't hate them but they hate us for some reason.

They are a victim of brainwashing. I remember in 90s Pakistan, Muhajirs and Punjabis/Pukhtoons could not even be friends due to politics in Karachi.

Times change.

Anti Pakistan/Pakistan army Afghan are in vast majority. If they were minority then it would be a different issues and we would have no problem.. These anti Pakistan sentiments shared by boht afghan politicians as well as average citizens. MQM leadership got what it deserved and they are history now. You think we should give citizenship to every afghan living in Pakistan irrespective of how he feel about Pakistan whther he respect its peopel or not ..whether he care about Pakistan i interest or not. Why would we oppose afghan if we would be feeling that they have nothing for us except love

Each case should be properly vetted. Social media accounts and call/text records should be checked.

If Afghans could drop their anti-Pakistaniness, it will be VERY easy for them to assimilate and be granted Pakistani citizenship. Contrary to popular myth, due to our large Pukthoon population, Pakistanis have more in common with Afghans than we do with ANY other community on earth. I agree we should unite but the hatred from the Afghans towards us needs to stop

Time is the best healer.

Why was Afghanistan the only country who voted against the admission of Pakistan in UN in 1947? There were no taliban back then right?

KSA and Iran also used to be our allies. Situations change.

 

[Super Falcon]

Govt should stop this stupidity we oppose this we dobt need afghanis

 

[Ahmad Saleem]

Why no one is considering their staunch support to PTM and their seriously racist attitude towards punjabis. May be some of them who have married with local can be given citizenship but most of them are not simply loyal to Pakistan. If PTM wont be there or they wouldnt had supported PTM then case would be much different

Even if we want to give citizenship to anyone then these are bengalis in karachi. They deserve it, hardworking loyal guys without any protection

 

[kingQamaR]

But then what those Biharis stranded in Bangladesh would think? They are facing worst persecution, more severe than the kabuli Muhajirs for fighting alongside our boys


Bro are you nuts?

These are two of same people’s striding Pakistan & Afghanistan. And are not a big issue for us assimilating then. No point in mixing it up with Bangladeshis fiasco.

 

[Mentee]

These are two of same people’s striding Pakistan & Afghanistan. And are not a big issue for us assimilating then. No point in mixing it up with Bangladeshis fiasco.

They couldn't freaking assimilate in their own country and you expect them to be a productive part of us? Here's my take on this, you assimilate Afghans their kids go to pma then some 50-60 years down the road the Supreme leader does a coup, inflict sufferings on the rest of " dal khors, urban sindhis and pakistani pakhtoons" whom they still consider traitor to this date . Now if that coup does fail to fetch them power then some areas of Pakistan sure gonna turn into Congo where some dick head renegade generals would be ruling with their own militia. becoz their loyalty is towards their race.


End result for a common Pakistani? Screwed to oblivion!!! No thank you we are better off without them. It's only a particular sect which goes over board to advocate citizenship for kabulis to equal the number game with other 75% not so "real, neo Muslims"

@Sarmad