US Deputy Secretary of State calls on SAFRON minister

ISLAMABAD: US Deputy Secretary of State Nancy Izzo Jackson, who is a career member of the Senior Executive Service, and served as Deputy Assistant Secretary in the Bureau of Population, Refugees, and Migration called on Federal Minister for SAFRON Lt. Gen (r) Abdul Qadir Baloch here on Tuesday.

During meeting, she lauded and appreciated the generous hosting of Afghan refugees by Pakistan for so many decades.

She said that the USA is committed to support Pakistan on the issues of Afghan refugees. She said that she will discuss in her next visit to Kabul the land allocation to Afghan refugees by Afghan government.

The minister thanked the Deputy Secretary for her concerns regarding repatriation of Afghan refugees. He said each and every effort for successful repatriation of refugees lies in Afghanistan.

He said that the USA should workout the strategy to chalk out a framework for successful repatriation keeping in view the security and economic situation. Pakistan sees the issue of Afghan refugees as humanitarian problem and it should be seen as such aspect without any political factor, he added.

He said that Pakistan has been facing multiple and complex problems due to Afghan refugees. He urged that counters should be set up to facilitate refugees coming at Torkham border.

He said that the package given by UNHCR is a major factor in repatriation. He asked her to work with Afghanistan to create a pull factor in Afghanistan to encourage refugees to return back to Afghanistan.