Afghan refugees pin hopes on US, Taliban deal
Web Desk
QUETTA: War-weary Afghan refugees living in Quetta pin high hopes on the historic agreement between US and Taliban. Afghan refugees term the US and Taliban deal in Qatari capital Doha as a first step towards restoration of peace in Afghanistan.
“We want peace and pin high hopes on this agreement”, Muhammad Ashraf, an Afghan refugee who works in a hotel tells Quetta Voice on Saturday evening. Like other Afghan refugees, Ashraf has also been living in Quetta for last more than two decades along with other family members.
US and Taliban agreed to sign a historic agreement in Doha on Saturday evening bringing an end to America’s longest war in Afghanistan. Off and on, US and Taliban finally succeeded in melting the ice and agreed to sign the historic document paving the way for durable peace in Afghanistan.
“Enough is enough, now it is time for political leaders of Afghanistan to work for peace”, Muhammad Lal, another Afghan refugee with bushy beard tells Quetta Voice. He said, “we are tired of being refugees and fed up with war in our country”.
Our dream is peace in Afghanistan: Refugees say
According to statistics of United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), the number of registered Afghan refugees in Balochistan is over 300000. Over three millions Afghan refugees came to Pakistan when the erstwhile United Soviet Socialist Republic (USSR) invaded Afghanistan in 1979. Since then generations have grown in Pakistan and the new generation has never been to their forefathers land.
I am from Kandahar and have been here for last four years, Niamatullah, another skinny and thiny Afghan refugee says. War brought me here, otherwise I wanted to be in my own country, he said.
Afghan refugees pin hopes on US, Taliban deal
The Afghan refugees in Quetta and other parts of Balochistan were taking keen interest into the unfolding political developments and negotiations in Qatarai capital Doha. “Peace is my dream”, Niamatullah said with tears in his eyes hoping for peace in his war-ravaged country.
The plight of Afghan refugees living in Balochistan is miserable. Most of the Afghan population is deprived of education, health, sanitation and other basic facilities. The afghan refugees camps located in Jangle Pir Alizai, Girdi Jangle, Surkhab and other areas of Balochistan portray a bleak picture when it comes to their living standards.
