کور / تازه خبرونه / The return of a huge number of refugees from Iran

The return of a huge number of refugees from Iran

Larawbar_Kabul_05-03-2008


“Afghan government can’t stomach the return of a huge number of refugees from Iran at the moment.” said Afghanistan’s foreign minister Dadfar Rangen Spanta in a press conference in Kabul, on Wednesday. Spanta told reporters that Afghanistan was struggling with devastating natural disasters this year and the up-rising activities of Taliban militants made security situation even critical. 


According to him, forcing afghan refugees to repatriate would add to the problems of the government and it is not ready to accepting refugees this soon. Afghan foreign minister appealed to the neighboring countries [Iran and Pakistan] in particular, to understand Afghanistan’s current situation and asked for their helping hand in refugees related issues. He told reporters that unemployment rate is high in the country; in the other hand Afghanistan is not in an appropriate economical statue to accept refugees.   


Iranian officials on Tuesday announced that some one million Afghan refugees, who live in Islamic Republic without holding legal residency documents, would be returned as soon as possible. According to Iranian officials, about two million Afghans are currently living there that at least one million don’t hold official residency permit. 


At the same time, Afghanistan’s foreign minister would hold high-level discussions with the Islamic officials from Islamic Republic of Iran. Afghan government would also appeal to the United Nation’s High Commission for Refuges. “ We hope our brothers in Islamic republic of Iran would understand our problems and would not force Afghans to repatriate any more.” said Afghan foreign minister.


According to Afghan foreign minister, the problems of Afghan refuges have been discussed with high-ranking European officials during his recent visit to the continent. Although, a specific agreement has not been made yet, Afghanistan’s foreign minister showed optimism about statues of Afghan refugees in Europe. He told reporters in Kabul that hopefully European governments would no longer force Afghan refugees to repatriate.