The United Nations has started the voluntary repatriation of Afghan refugees living in Pakistan. The U-N Refugee Agency calls this the start of the repatriation season in Afghanistan. It says the returns will continue until October when the weather turns cold. The Taleban have made a number of declarations in connection with the return, declaring that these people will not be harassed, will not be persecuted and will be exempt from any kind of military duty for a year after returning. The ruling Taleban group controls most of Afghanistan.
Afghans comprise the single largest refugee group in the world.
In Pakistan, some Afghan refugees are living in villages established for them, but most are dispersed inside the country. I am not going to say that the Taleban regime is the most fantastic regime in the world. And, I can understand that some people have reason to claim for asylum and for refugee status. However, I must say that much of the Afghan living in Pakistan and Iran are there for economical reasons. Mr. Franquin says the U-N Refugee Agency has received no reports of returned refugees having been harassed.