Some people were waiting for this news to be reported by Pakistani Media to consider it more credible so here it is from Pakistani Media (though source is still Afghanistani newspaper), the type of reaction it has caused in Pakistan - I will not be surprised if Achakzai issues a disclaimer and negate he ever said that like his partner in crime (Nawaz $harif) does:
http://dunyanews.tv/en/Pakistan/343412-Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa-is-the-land-of-Afghans-claims-
Khyber Pakhtunkhwa is the land of Afghans, claims Achakzai
Last Updated On
30 June,2016 About 6 hours ago
Achakzai said that he would not permit anyone to harass Afghan migrants in their "own land."
ISLAMABAD (Web Desk) - Pakhtunkhwa Milli Awami Party (PMAP) Chairman Mahmood Khan Achakzai on Thursday said that Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) province is an area of Afghans and they are allowed to live there without any fear and hesitation, reported
Afghanistan Times.
Opposed Pakistan’s policy regarding Afghan refugees, Achakzai said that he would not permit anyone to harass Afghan migrants in their “own land.”
“If Afghans are harassed in other parts of Pakistan, they should come here to the Pakhtunkhwa province, where no one can ask them for refugee cards, because it also belongs to them,” Achakzai added.
Meanwhile, Federal Minister Abdul Qadir Baloch bluntly responded that Afghan refugees have to leave Pakistan, adding that the government wants voluntarily and respectful repatriation of the migrants.
He also announced that Afghan refugees minister is scheduled to visit Pakistan on July 19 to discuss the issue.
On the other hand, Islamabad granted Afghan refugees an extra six months to remain in Pakistan as authorities stepped up efforts to work with the UN and Kabul to relocate camps to Afghanistan.
"The stay of POR (Proof of Registration) card holder Afghan refugees shall be extended for a further period of six months only, till 31st December, 2016," a statement issued from Prime Minister (PM) House.
The worsening security situation in Afghanistan meant that between January and June this year only 7,000 Afghans voluntarily returned to Afghanistan, according to UNHCR Pakistan.
Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif also ordered government ministries to engage with the United Nations and the Afghan government to aim for the "gradual relocation" of refugee camps from Pakistan to Afghanistan, his office said.
Pakistan would supply wheat to the relocated camps for three years free of charge as a gesture of good will, the office said.
Earlier, paramilitary forces of Pakistan attempted to build a gate at Torkham border crossing that resulted in an exchange of firing between Afghan and Pakistan forces. Both sides have also received casualties during the shooting.
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Khyber Pakhtunkhwa belongs to Afghans: Mahmood Achakzai tells the Afghanistan Times
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KABUL (Web Desk) – Pakhtukhwa Milli Awami Party (PK-MAP) chief Mahamood Khan Achakzai has said that Khyber Pakhtunkhw (KPK) of Pakistan belongs to Afghans and that Afghan refugees can live in the province without fear.
In an
interview with Afghanistan Times, Achakzai said :”If Afghans are harassed in other parts of Pakistan, they should come here to the Pakhtunkhwa province, where no one can ask them for refugee cards, because it also belongs to them.” He was responding to a query about the recent deportation of Afghan refugees in Pakistan.
He said Pakistan and Afghanistan should sit and talk about the Torkham border issue; otherwise, they should leave the matter to China and the United States, who would resolve it within two weeks.
When asked if Pakistani Pashtuns were unhappy over the country’s decision to build gates at the Afghan border, the PK-MAP leader said that Torkham and forced repatriation of Afghan refugees are two separate issues and Pashtuns are concerned about the matters of Afghan refugees.
The statement came just a week after Pakistani and Afghan forces exchanged fire at Torkham border after the former tried to build a border crossing to bar unauthorized entry of Afghan nationals.
Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif recently extended the repatriation deadline for Afghan refugees by another six months.
http://en.dailypakistan.com.pk/paki...mahmood-achakzai-tells-the-afghanistan-times/
And Nation:
Achakzai opposes Govt policy on repatriation of Afghan refugees
June 30, 2016, 5:50 pm
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KABUL: Leader of Pakhtoonkhwa Milli Awami Party (PKMA) Mahmood Khan Achakzai has opposed the government policy of repatriation of Afghan refugees saying that Khyber Pakhtunkhw (KPK) of Pakistan belongs to Afghans and they can live there without any fear.
In an interview with Afghanistan Times, Achakzai said “If Afghans are harassed in other parts of Pakistan, they should come here to the Pakhtunkhwa province, where no one can ask them for refugee cards, because it also belongs to them,” while responding to a query about Pakistan’s decision on repatriation of Afghan refugees.
To another question, he said Pakistan and Afghanistan should sit and talk about Torkham border issue, otherwise, they should leave this matter to China and the United States, they will figure it out within two weeks.
When asked if Pakistani Pashtuns were unhappy over Pakistan’s decision to build gates at the Afghan border, the PK-MAP leader said that Torkham and forced repatriation of Afghan refugees are two separate issues and Pashtuns are concerned about the matters of Afghan refugees.
Mahmood Khan Achakzai, whose elder brother is Governor of Balochsitan said he would not allow the harassment of Afghans on their own soil.
Political analysts said that Mahmood Khan Achakzai was speaking the language of Afghanistan and its refugees who are a big burden on Pakistan economy.
PTI leader Shaukat Yusufzai speaking on the statement of Achakzai said that the MNA never spoke in support of Pakistan. He said Mr Achakzai has so much love for Afghanistan, he should plead their case with Afghan government and also himself move to that country.
He said the statement of Mr Achakzai was based on personal interests.
Talking to media persons informally,Minister for States and Frontier Region Lt Gen Rtd Abdul Qadir Baloch said that Afghans cannot be allowed to stay in Pakistan any longer. He said the Afghans have been occupying one million jobs in Pakistan. He said the government wants honourable return of the refugees.
The Minister said that Afghanistan government has not honoured its commitment regarding return of the refugees. He said the Afghan govt was given a plan for the return of the refugees but it has not been implemented. He said complaints of the KPK government about Afghan refugees are justified.
http://nation.com.pk/international/...ovt-policy-on-repatriation-of-afghan-refugees
