Afghan Desk HRCP on behalf of Afghanistan- Pakistan People Friendship Association organized a one-day seminar on Sustainable Repatriation in Chitral on September 29,2003. More than sixty people of the educational institutions, non-governmental organizations, mass media representatives and member of the business community actively participated in this seminar and expressed their points of view regarding sustainable repatriation and improvement of relations between the people of the two countries. The program was preceded in the following order.

Mr. Sarwar Mamound Coordinator Afghan desk of HRCP:
Mr. Mamound in his speech discussed the reason of refugee influx into Pakistan. Afghans were compelled in the year 1978, due to aggression on their homeland, to seek shelter in the neighboring countries, Iran and Pakistan he said. Mr. Mamound criticized the world community for not fulfilling their promise, to provide every kind of facilities and financial assistance that they had with them in 1979. It was moral obligation of the world community to treat them humanely he said. Leaving of homes, properties, relatives and homeland and adjusting themselves with other people is a very difficult job Mr.Mamound said. Afghan refugees were compelled to seek labor in cities when the world communities stopped their aid to them. It is the reason that 3 to 4 hundred thousand Afghan refugees are living in urban area, Mr.Mamound disclosed in NWFP.

Talking about the new plan of reconstruction of Afghanistan in 2002 Mr. Mamound said that only $192 million were spent out of $1000 million on reconstruction while the remaining were spent on non-developmntal activities. Talking about the government servants in Afghanistan Mr.Mamound said that a policeman is getting only 1700 Afghani and that too, not on time. How can we expect them of good performance, he asked. He stressed the need of mega projects to be started in Afghanistan to create job vacancies there.
Talking about the repatriation after the tri-partite agreement Mr. Mamound expressed his dissatisfaction that until there is peace in Afghanistan it will be very risky for the refugees to go back. Two million refugees were repatriated in the year 2002 but due to the lack of basic necessities of life, law and order situation and drought were compelled to come back and seek shelter in the neighboring Iran and Pakistan Mr. Mamound disclosed.
Mr. Mamond proposed that education, food, shelter and peaceful atmosphere are the prerequisites of a sustainable repatriation. He stressed the world community to fulfill their promise of $ 4 billions for Afghanistan’s reconstruction.

There are many problems for the refugees in getting education, health, drinking water and other facilities. After the September 2001 new camps were built near the border where they face many problems for their normal survival.
He stressed the need of shelter to be universal and for all, irrespective of their financial position or political affiliation. It is the responsibility of the UNHCR to take this issue seriously that common man should not be deprived of their protection right by the influential people.

Mr. Tariq Ahmed Khan Coordinator Core Groups of HRCP NWFP:

Mr. Tariq Ahmed Khan in his detail speech explained the activities of Human Rights Commission of Pakistan for the development and protection of human rights in the region. Human Rights Commission of Pakistan is an independent non-governmental organization registered under the law. The main office of the secretariat is in Lahore and branch offices are in Karachi, Peshawar and Quetta. A Special Task Force is located in Hyderabad and another in Multan. HRCP also run a centre for Democratic Development in Islamabad. Apart from it there are Core Groups in Federally Administered Tribal Areas and recently establish a Core Group here in Chitral Mr. Tariq Ahmed Khan explained. Afghan Desk has been established in HRCP to work with the Afghan refugees settled in Pakistan Mr.Tariq Khan added.
Afghanistan-Pakistan People Friendship Association was established in December 2001 to strengthen relations between the two people. Under this Friendship Association three conferences have been held at Peshawar, Quetta and Karachi Mr. Khan said.
Referring to those Pakistani who went to Afghanistan to support Taliban on the saying of local Mullahs, are in prisons of Afghanistan now. Mr. Afrasiab Khattak Chairperson of HRCP visited high official of Afghanistan to release the prisoners.
Here in Pakistan we are conducting survey of jails in Pakistan since last ten years. The Afghan Desk of HRCP has prepared a detail report of the Afghan prisoners in N.W.F.P jails last year, Mr. Khan said.

Criticizing dual policy of the government of Pakistan Mr. Tariq Ahmed Khan said that Afghan refugees at the time of their arrival were warmly welcomed but now considered them as a burden. Only head of a family was to be registered and the remaining members were exempted but now they are facing problems with the law enforcement organs here in Pakistan. It was the reason that most of the innocent people were arrested and kept them in custody for a long time under the foreigner act.
In the last of his speech Mr. Tariq Ahmed Khan stressed the world community to work for the development of the people inside of Afghanistan as well as in the tribal belt bordering two countries.

Mr.Ismail Khan Sarhadi District leader of Awami National Party:
Those people, who bombarded and destroyed Afghanistan, are the enemies of Islam and they are responsible for violation of human rights, MR.Isamil Khan declared. Talking about peace in Afghanistan Mr. Ismail Khan said until there is a central government it is very difficult to maintain law and order in Afghanistan. Criticizing world community for their role in the reconstruction and rehabilitation he said that there are no educational institutions or technical center to produce skilled persons for the development of the country.

There are three million Afghan refugees in our country, who need education to live in peace within their country Mr. Ismail said. For the durable peace in Afghanistan Mr. Ismail Khan stress the need of disarmament, mines clearance and protection of human rights in the true sense. It the end of his speech Mr. Ismail Khan recommended education for all both morally and technically, a centralized government in Afghanistan and handing over control to join army of the Islamic country.

Jamila Gillani In charge Women Affaires Human Rights Commission of Pakistan NWFP Chapter:
Talking about women problems Jamila Gillani said Afghan women suffered too much due to war in Afghanistan. They were compelled to work in other homes for the survival of their family’s members. Afghan refugees have drinking water, food, shelter, health and education problems in camps Jamila explained. Afghan women should play their active role in the peace process Jamila Gillani recommended. Ms.Jamila declared women and children the most vulnerable amongst refugees. At the end of her speech she appealed the world community for the refugees rights protection.

Dr. Inayat Ullah Faizy prominent journalist and scholar of Chitral district:
Beginning his speech with the Quranic verses Dr.Inayat ullah Faizy stressed the need of such kind of activities in which relationship develops between the two people.
European, Asians and United States of America entered in Afghanistan in 1978 after the April Revolution in Afghanistan.
Criticizing the world community for their Afghan policy Mr. Faizy said that Afghans were deceived for good opportunities out of their home but actually there was nothing for them to live with dignity and honor.

Giving the example of two Afghans, Anwar Khan and Shah Wali who came here in 1978,to seek shelter were convinced to make a political party and then conditioned their aid with the division of the party. They are giving the false impression again for good working opportunities to repatriate them Mr. Faizy said.
Due to the frequent changes in curricula and replacing of one language of an-other as a source of teaching to Afghan children affected them bitterly Mr.Faizy said. During Taliban era scholarship was banned for them, which further increased their problems. In the total population of the world 2/3 consist of youths which are the most neglected one and need attention Mr. Faizy said.

Appreciating Afghan women for their role in the last 25 years Mr. Faizy said that they preserved their culture, custom and tradition in a very critical condition, which was a very difficult job.

Afghan refugees have great contribution in the development of hotel and restaurant industry here. They are running their hotels on the pattern of Kanduz and Takhar. There are many refugees in Pakistan but this credit goes only to Afghans who had taken interest in learning the local and national language of Pakistan. They introduced their caps, gown and developed the carpet industry here.About the repatriation process expressing his concern Mr.Faizy said that until there are great opportunities of employment and business in Afghanistan it would be very difficult to remain for a long time. There are hundreds of NGOs engaged in different activities in Afghanistan but their main focus is only on Kabul and Jalalabad or other big cities, which is not a fair game Mr. Faizy, disclosed.

Relations between the two countries of Afghanistan and Pakistan are of two levels, government to government and people to people. The government levels relations are subject to the sweet will of the super powers while people to people level which is friendly for all the seasons, Mr.Faizy said.
He declared responsible radio, television and press media for developing gape between the two people on their false propaganda against each other. To separate two brothers enemy had drawn line between them Mr.Faizy said. Civil society should compel the governments of the two countries to eliminate visa restriction and the people of the two countries freely visit each other like the people of Germany and France. In the last of his speech Mr.Faizy proposed a centralize government to maintain peace and stability in Afghanistan.
Apart from others Chairman of Chitral Bar Association, Mr.Karim Khan expressed his views about refugees and said that police attitudes is not only constrain with refugees alone but also with the citizens of this country. Mr.Karim pointed a problem facing the people of Chitral in winter season. When the Lawari top was remained closed due to snowfall in winter, there was an- alternative way for them passing through Afghanistan but since last three years this way remained not safe for them he complained! He stressed the government of Pakistan to take this issue with the government of Afghanistan.

Ms. Afia Zia (Motivation Officer of ILO)

50% Afghan children are involved in labor, which is a matter of great concern Ms. Afiya said. She said further that there are still some cases of bonded labor in Mohmand and Malakand Agencies and other areas and mostly they are Afghans.

Parents are compelled to put their children in labor for their survival, this was said by a mother when she was inquired, Ms. Afiya said. She stressed the need of education and better environment for Afghan Children in the last. She called on civil society organizations to join hand for the welfare of Afghan refugee children who will build their country in future.

Ms. Noor Shaba: Core Group Coordinator of Chitral District:

She appreciated women of Chitral for their keen interest in human rights affairs and voluntarily working. Those people who have any kind of problem concern to police harassment, women trafficking, education or problems in getting justice can contact us in our office here in Chitral she explained. She called on the Afghan refugees living in Chitral District to collaborate with HRCP Core group for solving their imminent problems. Afghan refugees could be benefited from the humanitarian services of HRCP and our partner organizations in Chitral District are keen to help them in various fields said Ms. Noor Shaba. ☼

Report by: Liaqat Shah

Author: Ahmad