Pak. has tough time tackling refugee influx

By B. Muralidhar Reddy

ISLAMABAD, OCT. 22. Pakistan is increasingly finding it difficult to keep back the surge of refugees from Afghanistan fleeing the American-led bombardment and the worst drought in the last three decades.

Reports from the capitals of Baluchistan and the North West Frontier Province, Quetta and Peshawar suggest that the tension on the border is rising with desperate Afghans wanting to cross over despite strict enforcement of border checks by the Pakistan. On Sunday, Pakistan border guards had to open fire on a group of Afghan refugees wanting to cross over ignoring the checkpost. The United Nations agencies believe that the situation could only worsen if the military campaign continued and if the Taliban remained adamant. The biggest worry of the U.N. agencies is that the military campaign could jeopardise the relief and rehabilitation efforts. The situation could get out of control once winter sets in. Normally, by the second week of December, several parts of Afghanistan would come under the cover of fog and ice. The Pakistan Foreign Office spokesman, Mr. Riaz Mohammad Khan, today conceded at the regular press briefing that the situation on the Afghan border was becoming tense. He said Pakistan has been allowing only people with valid documents and old and infirm and sick persons to cross over.

``There is no change in our policy of keeping the border closed. We have been impressing upon the international community about our inability to absorb any more refugees as we are already burdened with 3 million of them. The need of the hour is to open relief camps on the border within Afghanistan,'' Mr. Khan said.

In a press conference, the Taliban Ambassador to Pakistan, Mullah Abdul Saleem Zaeef, said he was aware of the exodus from Afghanistan and the pressure on Pakistan.

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Section  : International
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