The voluntary repatriation of Afghans living in Pakistan would be completed within the next three years, Minister of State and Frontier Regions (SAFRON) Sardar Yar Rind said. He briefed German Parliamentarian Mrs. Elke Hoff about the efforts of the Pakistan government for return of Afghan refugees, according to an official statement. The minister said over three million Afghans have so far gone back to their home voluntarily with the assistance of the UN High Commission for Refugees or UNHCR since 2002. Rind said the government, in close collaboration with the Afghan government and UNHCR, had started repatriation of Afghans who did not have Proof of Registration (PoR) Cards. These cards were issued by the Pakistan government after a countrywide registration exercise carried out from October last to February 15, 2007. The repatriation without PoR Cards will conclude on April 15, while the repatriation of those holding PoR Cards will start on April 16 , he added. The minister that it had been decided to close down the four Afghan refugees camps in the North West Frontier Province and Balochistan during the current summer. He urged the German government and European Union to assist Pakistan and UNHCR in the ongoing process of repatriation of Afghans nationals. Elke Hoff assured the minister that the German government would do its best to assist repatriation of the refugees. She said that the Afghan refugees issue had been put on the agenda of the G-8 next summit. She said during her next visit to Afghanistan she would discuss the issue of refugees with the Afghan authorities.
