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Peaceful Afghanistan key to dignified return of Afghan refugees: Pakistani PM
Sharif said Pakistan has remained one of the world’s largest refugee-hosting countries and has managed the welfare of millions of Afghan nationals throughout this period.
Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has stressed that a peaceful, stable and economically resilient Afghanistan is essential to ensuring the safe, dignified and sustainable return of Afghan refugees.
In a message marking World Refugee Day, Sharif said the occasion serves as a reminder that protecting refugees and supporting their safe rehabilitation is a shared responsibility of the international community.
He noted that millions of Afghans sought refuge in Pakistan following the events of 1979, fleeing decades of conflict and insecurity. Despite limited resources, Pakistan opened its crossings and hosted Afghan refugees for more than four decades, providing access to education, employment and essential services.
Sharif said Pakistan has remained one of the world’s largest refugee-hosting countries and has managed the welfare of millions of Afghan nationals throughout this period.
He added that Pakistan launched a phased, orderly and dignified repatriation process in September 2023, with more than 2.4 million Afghan nationals returning home by June 2026.
The prime minister acknowledged that hosting millions of refugees placed significant economic, social, environmental and security pressures on Pakistan, while reaffirming his country’s commitment to working with the International Organization for Migration (IOM), the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) and international partners to support the voluntary return and reintegration of Afghan refugees.