PESHAWAR
Afghan refugees residing in Peshawar and other parts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa have expressed deep gratitude to the Pakistani government and people for their hospitality over the past 40 years, calling it unparalleled in history. Speaking at a press conference at the Peshawar Press Club (PPC), Chairman of the United Central High Council, Miankhel Barialy, along with High Council members, Board Bazaar President Saeed Naqeeb Badshah, and other representatives, described Pakistan as their second home.
They appealed for an extension of their stay, stating that the March 31 deadline for repatriation is too short. “Forty percent of the people in Afghanistan do not have proper shelter. We request the government to grant us one more year under a well-defined policy formulated in consultation with us,” they urged.
The representatives also called for the immediate reopening of the Torkham border, citing heavy losses faced by traders and difficulties for the general public due to its closure. They acknowledged the support of the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister, who recently advocated for Afghan refugees to be granted Pakistani citizenship. However, they also raised concerns about police harassment.
Furthermore, they urged the government not to deprive their children of education in schools, colleges, and universities. “All stakeholders should come together to decide on a clear timeline for our return to Afghanistan,” they said, emphasizing the severe food and water shortages in their homeland.
“We are loyal to Pakistan, and our families hold this country in the highest regard,” they added, hoping for a compassionate and structured resolution to their concerns.
