Islamabad fears fresh influx of refugees

By B. Muralidhar Reddy

ISLAMABAD, JAN. 21. The adverse impact of the fresh sanctions imposed by the United Nations Security Council against Afghanistan are being felt in neighbouring Pakistan, and there are reports of thousands of displaced Afghans wanting to cross over to this side.

At the end of a three-day conclave of Pakistan envoys in and around Afghanistan, presided over by the Chief Executive, Gen. Pervez Musharraf, the Foreign Office made no effort to hide the fact that the sanctions would have a devastating effect in the days to come.

Reports from Peshawar have suggested that thousands of Afghans were waiting on the border to cross over. Pakistan has claimed that in the last few months an estimated one lakh Afghans have moved in search of a better life. As it is playing host to an estimated two million refugees, the Pakistan Government has thrown up its hands, saying it could not accommodate more.

As a close ally of the Taliban regime, Pakistan has reason to be concerned over the fallout of the sanctions that prohibit supply of arms and impose travel restrictions on Afghan officials. The conference of Pakistan envoys made a fervent appeal to the international community to constructively engage the Taliban regime.

The tough stand taken by religious organisations has added to the woes of the military government. At a conference near Peshawar last week, they not only urged Pakistan to ignore the U.N. sanctions but also threatened to boycott American, Russian and Indian products.

The Foreign Office spokesman, who briefed correspondents on the envoys conference, said the world had nothing to gain by ``ignoring the ground realities or ostracising'' the Taliban regime. Constructive engagement was the phrase which was repeated during the press conference.

The brief message directed at the Taliban regime was that it should do everything to ``assuage the apprehensions'' of the international community. The spokesman was neither willing to spell out the apprehensions nor talk about the Osama bin Laden factor that has invited the wrath of the international community.

``As for the demand of the international community and the U.N. resolution seeking handing over of Osama, it is for the Taliban Government to consider and take whatever steps it deems necessary,'' was all that the spokesman was willing to say.

While stating the intention of Pakistan to abide by the U.N. resolution on sanctions, the spokesman reiterated the unhappiness over the ``one-sided'' nature of arms embargo. He argued that leaving out the opposition Northern Alliance from the ambit of arms embargo would only prolong the conflict.

He described the situation in Afghanistan as ``the greatest humanitarian challenge'' and called upon the international community to launch a concerted effort to address the problems of refugees.

He was all praise for the statement of the Afghan Foreign Minister, Mr. Wakil Ahmad Muttawakil, urging the people of Afghanistan to ensure safety of the personnel of international agencies engaged in humanitarian aid ``in spite of understandable anger''.

To a question on whether the Pakistani Government had asked the Taliban to scale down its staff in the Islamabad embassy as per the U.N. resolution, he said Pakistan was in the process of ascertaining the staff strength in the Afghan embassy.

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Section  : International
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