Pakistan to continue its support for repatriation of Afghan refugees: FM

Pakistani Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi said on Wednesday that Pakistan will continue to extend support for the repatriation of Afghan refugees to their homeland with honor and dignity, the local news agency NNI reported.

Talking to the new Country Representative of the UNHCR, Mengesha Kebede, the foreign minister said that the Pakistani nation has been extending hospitality to their Afghan brethren for the past three decades and will support U.N. refugee agency in its efforts for the repatriation of Afghan refugees.

Qureshi lauded the commendable services rendered by the UNHCR to the affects of the October 2005 earthquake and the dislocated population in the Malakand region during the recent operations.

The UNHCR country director acknowledged the steady decline in international assistance for Afghan refugees and praised the gracious hospitality extended by Pakistan to their Afghan brethren for such a long time.

He assured that the UNHCR will work closely with the government of Pakistan for the smooth repatriation of the two millions of Afghan refugees to their homeland.

Source: Xinhua