Pak. 'helpless' on Afghan refugee issue

By B. Muralidhar Reddy

ISLAMABAD, SEPT. 26. Pakistan today expressed helplessness in throwing open its borders to the fleeing Afghans on the ground that it was not in a position to accommodate any more refugees even as the United Nations Secretary-General, Mr. Kofi Annan, made a passionate appeal to all the neighbours of Afghanistan to throw open their borders.

The Pakistan Foreign Office spokesman, Mr. Riaz Mohammad Khan, said at a press conference here that about 10,000 to 15,000 Afghans were waiting on the border to cross over but as of now there was no change in Islamabad's policy of keeping its borders closed. (Even before the September 11 attacks on the U.S., the stated position of Pakistan was that there were 2.5 million Afghan refugees in the country and it could not absorb any more).

The NWFP Governor, Syed Iftikhar Hussain Shah, said Pakistan would not like to open its borders because there were chances of the supporters of Northern Alliance, opposed to Pakistan, entering the country and indulging in acts of sabotage; and the Taliban had threatened Pakistan with retaliation if attacked.

Pakistan has had a serious grouse against the international community, particularly the Western bloc, for abandoning the Afghan refugees after the disintegration of the Soviet Union. It complained many times to the U.N. about the dwindling financial and material support to the refugees, saying it had been left to Afghanistan's neighbours to bear the burden of the influx. And the manner in which Australia shut its doors to the 400 Afghan refugees aboard a ship recently brought to light the growing apathy of the international community towards them.

Just weeks before the terrorist attacks on the U.S., the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees pledged increased assistance for the refugees' well-being. And the September 11 attacks dramatically altered the perception of the international community. With Pakistan being counted once again as a frontline State by the U.S. in its fight against international terrorism, the West is rushing with commitments of aid for the refugees. Japan has already announced a grant of $ 40 million. On Tuesday, the European Union pledged 40 euro million.

In a statement, Mr. Annan has said that he strongly supported the statement issued on Tuesday by heads of the United Nations humanitarian agencies. (They had warned that a ``humanitarian crisis of stunning proportions'' was unfolding in Afghanistan and urged the world community to be mindful of the principles of `humanitarian law' and take all measures to protect the civilian population).

``The plight of the civilian Afghan population is indeed desperate. More than two decades of conflict, seven years of oppressive rule by the Taliban regime and three years of severe drought have left more than five million people dependent on foreign aid for their very survival.

Now, tragically, that aid has been interrupted. Those who deliberately withhold food supplies from starving people, and attack or impede humanitarian relief workers - whether local or international - should know that the international community will hold them responsible,'' Mr. Annan said.

In accordance with international law, the borders must be open to civilians seeking refuge, he said. The international community must send swift and generous help, so that refugees did not become a burden on the neighbouring States. ``Innocent civilians should not be punished for the actions of their Government. The world is united against terrorism. Let it be equally united in protecting and assisting the innocent victims of emergencies and disasters.''

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Section  : International
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