PESHAWAR – Pakistan encouraging voluntary repatriation, has promised Afghanrefugees will not be forced into leaving in the country

The legal stay of around 1.4 million documented refugees in Pakistan willexpire on March 31, with a new extension in their stay unlikely.

Minister for States and Frontier Regions Abdul Qadir Baloch said hiscountry was dealing with the refugee issue on humanitarian grounds.

Addressing participants of the Track II Dialogue in Islamabad on Monday, hesaid Pakistan was also hosting nearly a million unregistered Afghans.

He said: “The refugees have nothing to do with the security situation. Noserious security problem has been witnessed between local communities andrefugees.”

Baloch added Pakistan is working in close coordination with the UN refugeeagency and the Afghan embassy on the dignified return of Afghans.

Earlier in the day, Afghan delegates warned the government in Kabul wouldnot be able to accommodate millions of refugees if they were forced toleave Pakistan.

In response, Baloch said: “Educational and health facilities are availableto Afghan refugees in Pakistan. I am glad to know 50,000 people educated inPakistan are currently serving in Afghanistan.

UNHCR representative Ruven Menikdiwela supported Pakistan’s idea that thosewho wanted to stay in Pakistan should get Afghan passports.”

She remarked: “We cannot vouch for every individual refugee. We say ifthere are bad guys, deal with them according to law but don’t bracketeveryone with terrorists.”