- ISLAMABAD - The United Nations
High Commission for Refugee (UNHCR) has reported of rising public sentiment
in the tribal areas to avenge the brutal killing of many Taliban fighters
last week in the prison battle in Mazar-e-Sharif.
The refugee agency's spokesperson, Maki Shinohara, on Monday told a media
briefing, "Reportedly, there are some fighters who have originated
from the tribal areas but have not returned, and there are rumours about
planned revenge." She said the UNHCR is alarmed about the rising tension
in Pakistan's tribal areas, along the border with Afghanistan. The UNHCR
official said the recent developments inside Afghanistan, in particular
the killing of many Taliban fighters last week in the prison battle in
Mazar-e-Sharif, "seems to be unsettling the population in the tribal
areas".
The UNHCR field staff are on high alert, following closely the security
situation in the tribal areas, she said. At the same time, the UNHCR is
"gearing up to begin relocating this week the non-Pashtun refugees
from Jalozai to Kurram Agency". About their security, Maki said: "The
provincial authorities feel confident that the refugees will not be at
risk there."
The UNHCR urged all parties in both Pakistan as well as in Afghanistan
"to respect the rights and human dignity of those who find themselves
in a minority situation due to ethnicity, tribal differences or political
views".
Maki said tensions and hatred between groups are extremely difficult to
reverse, especially when violence is committed against a particular group.
She recalled that the refugee agency had been involved too often in difficult
minority situations like in the Balkans and the African Great Lakes area,
"helping people to come together in post-conflict peace building".
In a diversified and complex situation as in this region surrounding Afghanistan,
Maki said it is absolutely necessary for all parties involved to refrain
from retaliatory actions, if Afghanistan is to have a stable future.
The UNHCR "considers it is of utmost importance for people to make
every effort toward co-existence, if not reconciliation, among former foes,
and resist divisions and hostility between groups of people". Otherwise,
she feared, more displacements would make the resolution of the refugee
crisis "a distant dream".
The UNHCR spokesperson reported of an increasing number of Afghans at the
Chaman border crossing on the weekend. The agency said over 6,000 people
camped out on Sunday in no-man's land between Afghanistan and Pakistan.
At present there are about 3,000 people at Kili Faizo staging site. The
UNHCR voiced concerns about "those staying outside Kili Faizo, many
women and children spending nights in the open, without adequate clothing,
shelter or food in sub-zero temperature, hoping to cross the border".
Maki noted that a majority of the refugees registered at Chaman border
were from Kandahar province. Quoting refugees, she said, they had come
from makeshift camps for internally displaced people in the Spin Boldak
area. The refugees cited the lack of food and general insecurity as reasons
for migration.
Meanwhile, the UNHCR monitoring team in the NWFP reports of over 70,000
people crossing into Pakistan from eastern Afghanistan in November. "We
estimate that about 55,000 may be seeking asylum," said Maki Shinohara.
The News International, Pakistan http://jang.com.pk/thenews/dec2001-daily/04-12-2001/main/main4.htm
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