Washington: A senior US State Department official has said that Pakistan should keep its border open because it is significant in such a country. While briefing the journalists about their new US refugees admission program for Afghan nationals, he clearly said that if the people of Afghanistan go north or if they go to Turkey via Iran, they have two chances, either enter the country and register with the government or with UNCHCR.
Moeed Yusuf, the National Security Advisor also said at a briefing in Washington this week that instead of pushing refugees into Pakistan, the US should make arrangements to keep them in their country.
The US State Department has also asked Turkey to allow the refugees to live in Turkey for up to 14 months or until they got resettled in the US.
However, the Turkish government denounced the US plan. They said this move would cause a ‘great migration crisis’s in the region. The Turkish Foreign Ministry said in a statement issued in Ankara that we do not acknowledge the decision taken by the US without asking from our country.
The officials of the US said that in the resettlement plans, two countries can play a vital role, Iran and Pakistan. He said that as we do not have diplomatic relations with Iran, the policymakers look at Pakistan for their help to implement the plan. Since 1979, Pakistan has provided refuge to millions of Afghans and more than 3 million are permanently settled there, but Pakistan appears reluctant to do so as the economy of Pakistan is not strong enough to absorb more Afghans.