INSUBCONTINENT EXCLUSIVE:
Pakistan on Sunday said it will continue to support all efforts aimed at addressing the humanitarian situation in Afghanistan, and the issue
of lasting peace and stability in the country.In a statement issued by Pakistan’s Foreign Office, spokesperson Shafqat Ali Khan thanked
Jan Egeland, Secretary General of the Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC), for drawing attention to the humanitarian predicament of
Afghanistan.Egeland earlier warned that the humanitarian crisis in Afghanistan is being overlooked by the international community, with 22
million people in need of aid.Speaking during a visit to Afghanistan, Egeland highlighted the dire situation faced by Afghan families,
particularly women.“Here in Herat, I met women who had been deported without their husbands back to deep poverty and hopelessness,” he
said.“Thank you @NRC_Egeland for drawing attention to the humanitarian predicament of Afghanistan
It would have been more appropriate had the world not abandoned the Afghan people after the war and if conducive socioeconomic conditions
had been created inside the country for the Afghan people to prosper,” said FO spokesperson Shafqat Ali Khan.He said: “Pakistan has
generously hosted over four million Afghan refugees
Those sent back were residing illegally without any documentation or proof of residence
Progress on the cases of thousands of Afghan nationals who were promised resettlement in western countries remains painfully slow.UN
Humanitarian aid to Afghanistan remains critically underfunded with only 37.5% of the required funds secured last year.”He said Pakistan
and Afghanistan were tied together by historical, religious and cultural links that transcend time.“Pakistan has been and will continue to
support all efforts aimed at addressing the humanitarian situation in Afghanistan as well as for lasting peace and stability in the
country,” he added.Egeland highlights dire situation of return refugeesJan Egeland, Secretary General of the Norwegian Refugee Council
(NRC), on Monday highlighted the dire situation faced by Afghan refugees.His warning came after his visit to the Islam Qala border crossing
between Afghanistan and Iran.Egeland revealed that significant numbers of Afghans are being expelled daily
“Iran wants to deport 2 million, and Pakistan has already sent back 800,000,” he stated.These mass deportations come at a time when
Afghanistan is grappling with severe humanitarian challenges, exacerbated by reduced international support.According to Egeland, western
donors have failed to uphold their commitments to Afghan girls and the broader population, slashing critical aid programs that were once
lifelines for millions.The Secretary General criticized the international community for neglecting its promises and leaving vulnerable
Afghans to face worsening conditions.The return of such large numbers of people is straining Afghanistan’s fragile infrastructure and
economy, which remains in crisis following the IEA’s takeover in 2021.NRC and other humanitarian organizations are calling for renewed
international focus and resources to address the escalating needs of displaced Afghans and the communities struggling to absorb them.As
deportations continue and aid dwindles, the situation underscores a growing humanitarian crisis at Afghanistan’s borders, with countless
families left to face an uncertain future.The post Pakistan to continue supporting Afghanistan amid growing humanitarian crisis first
