Pakistan, Afghanistan discuss ways to enhance cooperation for Afghan refugees' repatriation

Pakistan and Afghanistan officials on Wednesday held second meeting of the Refugee Working Group during which they discussed ways for dignified repatriation of Afghan refugees.

The two sides held talks under the Afghanistan-Pakistan Action Plan for Peace and Stability (APAPPS) at the Ministry of State and Frontier Regions (SAFRON) in Islamabad. 

The Afghan delegation was headed by the Deputy Minister for Afghan Ministry of Refugee Affairs, Dr Alema, while Mohammad Aslam, Secretary, SAFRON led the Pakistan side.

Foreign Office said in a statement that the meeting discussed matters related to Afghan refugees and other Afghan nationals illegally residing in Pakistan.

"Both sides deliberated on the ways to enhance mutual cooperation for a dignified, gradual, time-bound and complete return of the Afghan nationals to their country," it said. 

"It was also decided to observe the agreed timelines and procedures for repatriation of various categories of these persons to Afghanistan."

During the meeting, the two sides signed a standard operating procedure (SOP) for streamlining the working of the group among the two concerned Ministries on a regular basis, in future. 

Next meeting of the APAPPS Working Group on Refugees will be held in Kabul