66th Session of Executive Committee of the UN High Commissioner for Refugees
(UNHCR-Refugees Agency)
High-level Segment of UNHCR on Afghan Refugee Situation(7.10.2015)
Statement by H.E. Mr. Ajit Kumar, Ambassador & Permanent Representative of India to UN offices and Other International Organizations
Mr. Chairperson,
1. At the outset, we thank the UN High Commissioner Mr. Gutteres for holding this year’s high-level segment on Afghan refugee situation.
2. India welcomes the presence of Afghan Minister for Refugee and Repatriation His Excellency Sayed Hussain Balkhi at this High Level Segment.
3. Afghan refugees remain the largest population in the longest protracted displacement under UNHCR’s mandate. We note that over 2.6 million Afghans are living outside their country, and a large number as unregistered persons in countries outside Afghanistan.
Mr. Chairperson,
4. Security is the basic requirement for the return of refugees. There can be no meaningful way to tackle the return and re-integration of Afghan refugees, unless the international community assists the Afghan Government in vanquishing the scourge of terrorism that sadly continues to persist in the country.
5. We note the positive developments under the leadership of the present Afghan government, which made a firm commitment to support refugee reintegration in the framework of its national development strategy.
Mr. Chairperson,
6. Afghanistan is an important neighbouring country of India. We have strategic partnership and we would like to see a strong, stable and prosperous Afghanistan.
7. India has also been home for Afghan nationals. In close collaboration with the UNHCR, India is managing over 11,500 Afghan refugees. We would continue to support Afghan refugees in the country in accordance with the ongoing progammes.
8. Create ofan enabling environment for economic development is also an antidote and a durable solution to refugee issue. India has established a comprehensive development partnership with Afghanistan in a number of areas of interest to Afghan Government, including in the field of infrastructure, education and health services, skill development. These projects are aimed at creating an enabling environment for employment and meaningful livelihood opportunities for the people of Afghanistan.
9. Afghanistan must be helped to undertake a successful economic transition – away from its dependence on international aid to an economy that harnesses Afghanistan’s innate wealth in natural and human resources - this is vital to create the condition for the return of Afghan refugees to their homeland. At the recent Regional Economic Cooperation Conference on Afghanistan (RECCA) hosted by Afghanistan in Kabul, the issue of connectivity and within connectivity the ‘trade transit’ was identified as the activity with the maximum potential of job and income creation. We all know that Afghanistan’s economic future lies at the ‘Heart’ of a network of trade, transit, energy and communication routes that criss-cross Afghanistan and its neighbouring countries.
10. India has been supportive of international efforts,including through UNHCR, to find lasting solutions for Afghan refugees in the region,
Mr. Chairperson,
11. India remains committed to support development of Afghanistan as per the priorities identified by the government and people of Afghanistan.We would like to reiterate our solidarity and partnership with the Government of Afghanistan in its endeavors as they deal collectively with other countries where Afghan refugees are present.
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