Press Release Newsflash BNP appeals to international community for immediate repatriation of Afghan refugees
QUETTA: The Balochistan National Party (BNP) has demanded an immediate and dignified return of all Afghan refugees from Balochistan back to their native Afghanistan in order to maintain durable peace in Balochistan. The Party believes it is impossible to bring peace in Balochistan as long as the Afghan refugees live inside the province and indulge in various forms of terrorist activities and religious radicalization.
Around two million Afghan refugees crossed inside Balochistan following the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan in 1979 which caused massive demographic imbalance in the Baloch-majority province of Balochistan. Besides, the Afghan refugees injected a culture of drugs and weapons in the Baloch province, a practice that was largely ignored by the Pakistani establishment at that time which viewed it as an improved strategy to undermine the Baloch movement for the rights of self-determination.
In a policy statement issued here from the BNP secretariat, the party has reiterated its longstanding appeal to the international community, human rights groups and the government of Pakistan to make timely arrangements to repatriate all Afghan refugees. Afghanistan is no longer in a situation of turmoil which was seen during the Soviet occupation. Even, that country is more stable today as compared to Pakistan which is facing the heat of its decades-old support extended to Taliban and Mujahideen.
The BNP believes that the Afghan refugees account for majority of the law and order problems created in Balochistan. They are a source of religious radicalization, protection for Taliban and increasing religious militancy which need to be urgently curbed in the greater interest of the entire region.
The BNP has outright rejected the claims of the government of Pakistan about making tangible efforts to bring peace to Balochistan. Pointing out that the official policy does not stipulate directives to send the Afghan refugees back to their country; the party statement said this deliberate attempt to snub the refugee issue demonstrated defects in the official policy. The present so-called government is also working on the lines of former military dictator General Pervez Musharraf’s anti-Baloch policies.
“The Balochs do not feel or see any policy change while analyzing the repressive attitude of the current federal and provincial governments vis-à-vis Baloch. Instead, the present rulers, who contends to be democratic, have also embarked upon dictatorial policies which are adding to Baloch resentment,” said the BNP statement.
The BNP statement said the creation of turmoil and lawlessness inside Balochistan was the brainchild of Pakistan’s intelligence agencies because the tribal society of Balochistan had had a history of peace, tolerance and mutual cooperation with all communities of the society. The state-controlled secrete services are deliberately bringing and populating Afghan refugees and empowering them with guns to shatter the peaceful atmosphere of Balochistan.
“We are still experiencing a flood of Afghan refugees on the Baloch land. We have been demanding from the government to restrict the movement of these refugees to their camps as they are a source of lawlessness and Talibanization inside Balochistan. Their illegal property should instantaneously be confiscated and fake domicile, national identity cards and traveling documents provided to them should be cancelled at once,” demands the Balochistan National Party.
The BNP believes that until the Afghan refugee issue is permanently settled, the roots of instability in the Af-Pak region would remain entrenched. Once the Afghan refugees go back to their country, the possibility of Pakistani territory being used for terrorist activities will naturally minimize. In addition, this will remarkably help to reduce the possibility of regular attacks on NATO supplies that pass from Balochistan.