Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09KABUL640
2009-03-18 10:05:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Kabul
Cable title:
INSECURITY DELAYS AFGHAN REFUGEE REPATRIATION FROM
how-toVZCZCXRO2787 PP RUEHBC RUEHDBU RUEHDE RUEHDIR RUEHKUK RUEHPW DE RUEHBUL #0640 0771005 ZNY CCCCC ZZH P 181005Z MAR 09 FM AMEMBASSY KABUL TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 7824 INFO RUCNAFG/AFGHANISTAN COLLECTIVE PRIORITY RUCNIRA/IRAN COLLECTIVE PRIORITY RUEHIL/AMEMBASSY ISLAMABAD PRIORITY 7303 RUEHDE/AMCONSUL DUBAI PRIORITY 6794 RUEHKP/AMCONSUL KARACHI PRIORITY 3182 RUEHLH/AMCONSUL LAHORE PRIORITY 0446 RUEHPW/AMCONSUL PESHAWAR PRIORITY 8231
C O N F I D E N T I A L KABUL 000640
NATO CONFIDENTIAL
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/17/2034
TAGS: PHUM PREF UN AF PK IR
SUBJECT: INSECURITY DELAYS AFGHAN REFUGEE REPATRIATION FROM
PAKISTAN
Classified By: STACY NICHOLS, ACTING POLITICAL COUNSELOR, US EMBASSY KA
BUL, FOR REASONS 1.4 (B) AND (D)
C O N F I D E N T I A L KABUL 000640
NATO CONFIDENTIAL
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/17/2034
TAGS: PHUM PREF UN AF PK IR
SUBJECT: INSECURITY DELAYS AFGHAN REFUGEE REPATRIATION FROM
PAKISTAN
Classified By: STACY NICHOLS, ACTING POLITICAL COUNSELOR, US EMBASSY KA
BUL, FOR REASONS 1.4 (B) AND (D)
1. (SBU) Summary: UNHCR has suspended operations to assist
Afghan refugees repatriate from Pakistan. Repatriation from
Peshawar is suspended until at least April 1, pending an
assessment that it is safe for UNHCR personnel and refugees
to participate. Repatriation from Quetta is suspended
indefinitely, linked to efforts to recover the head of
UNHCR's Quetta sub-office, who was abducted February 2.
2. (U) In February UNHCR announced that its offices in
Afghanistan and Pakistan would postpone assisted repatriation
for Afghan refugees in Pakistan. Repatriation operations
were suspended for the winter at the end of October 2008, and
UNHCR had planned to resume operations March 1. The February
announcement said that the voluntary repatriation center
(VRC) in Peshawar would not open until March 16, and the VRC
in Quetta would remain closed until further notice.
3. (SBU) Note: Refugees "check out" of Pakistan at VRCs
operated by UNHCR and the Government of Pakistan. The
refugees-turned-returnees "check in" to Afghanistan at
encashment centers operated by UNHCR and the Government of
Afghanistan. Encashment centers are so called because
returnees receive their repatriation and transportation
stipends of nearly $100 per person, plus a food allowance,
during processing there. In 2008, 276,000 Afghan refugees
used this process to return from Pakistan to Afghanistan.
Returnees said that insecurity and inflation in Pakistan
convinced them to move home, despite a dearth of jobs and
services in Afghanistan. Assisted repatriation from Iran
operates much differently. Suspending operations at Pakistan
VRCs and Afghanistan encashment centers will have no impact
on repatriation from Iran.
4. (C) In late February the Chief Commissioner for Afghan
Refugees told Islamabad Refugee Affairs Specialist (RAS) that
the delays were due to security concerns in Northwest
Frontier Province and Baluchistan. On March 4 UNHCR
Pakistan's assistant country representative Killian
Kleinschmidt told Regional Refugee Coordinator that
repatriation operations were suspended at the request of the
Government of Pakistan. UNHCR Pakistan hoped to resume
repatriation operations at the Peshawar VRC by mid-March.
5. (C) Kleinschmidt admitted that UNHCR remained severely
shaken by the February 2 abduction of Quetta sub-office
chief, Amcit John Solecki, and murder of his driver, Syed
Hashim. The UNHCR Pakistan country representative and her
deputy were working full-time to secure Solecki's release.
UNHCR would not resume repatriation operations in Quetta
until the Solecki case was resolved.
6. (C) On March 15 UNHCR Afghanistan Country Representative
Ewen MacLeod advised Regional RefCoord and Kabul RAS that
repatriation operations would not resume until April 1, at
the earliest. MacLeod had sought assurances from UNHCR
Pakistan that conditions between Peshawar and the Khyber Pass
were safe enough to send returning refugees, their families,
and their earthly possessions. He was dissatisfied with the
response and did not want to create incentives for refugees
to cross through an active counter-insurgency campaign.
7. (C) Conclusion: UNHCR's interest in assisting voluntary
repatriation is tempered by concern about its staff's safety
in Pakistan, and risks to returning refugees traveling to and
through the Khyber Pass. UNHCR Pakistan remains shaken by
the ongoing tragedy of the Solecki abduction. The delay puts
would-be returnees in a quandary. Insecurity is likely to
continue to push Afghan refugees from Pakistan, but
repatriation subsidies create an incentive to remain until
UNHCR resumes operations. We have been impressed by the
refugee grapevine, however, and believe the refugees will
obtain accurate enough intelligence to judge whether and when
to return to Afghanistan.
WOOD
NATO CONFIDENTIAL
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/17/2034
TAGS: PHUM PREF UN AF PK IR
SUBJECT: INSECURITY DELAYS AFGHAN REFUGEE REPATRIATION FROM
PAKISTAN
Classified By: STACY NICHOLS, ACTING POLITICAL COUNSELOR, US EMBASSY KA
BUL, FOR REASONS 1.4 (B) AND (D)
1. (SBU) Summary: UNHCR has suspended operations to assist
Afghan refugees repatriate from Pakistan. Repatriation from
Peshawar is suspended until at least April 1, pending an
assessment that it is safe for UNHCR personnel and refugees
to participate. Repatriation from Quetta is suspended
indefinitely, linked to efforts to recover the head of
UNHCR's Quetta sub-office, who was abducted February 2.
2. (U) In February UNHCR announced that its offices in
Afghanistan and Pakistan would postpone assisted repatriation
for Afghan refugees in Pakistan. Repatriation operations
were suspended for the winter at the end of October 2008, and
UNHCR had planned to resume operations March 1. The February
announcement said that the voluntary repatriation center
(VRC) in Peshawar would not open until March 16, and the VRC
in Quetta would remain closed until further notice.
3. (SBU) Note: Refugees "check out" of Pakistan at VRCs
operated by UNHCR and the Government of Pakistan. The
refugees-turned-returnees "check in" to Afghanistan at
encashment centers operated by UNHCR and the Government of
Afghanistan. Encashment centers are so called because
returnees receive their repatriation and transportation
stipends of nearly $100 per person, plus a food allowance,
during processing there. In 2008, 276,000 Afghan refugees
used this process to return from Pakistan to Afghanistan.
Returnees said that insecurity and inflation in Pakistan
convinced them to move home, despite a dearth of jobs and
services in Afghanistan. Assisted repatriation from Iran
operates much differently. Suspending operations at Pakistan
VRCs and Afghanistan encashment centers will have no impact
on repatriation from Iran.
4. (C) In late February the Chief Commissioner for Afghan
Refugees told Islamabad Refugee Affairs Specialist (RAS) that
the delays were due to security concerns in Northwest
Frontier Province and Baluchistan. On March 4 UNHCR
Pakistan's assistant country representative Killian
Kleinschmidt told Regional Refugee Coordinator that
repatriation operations were suspended at the request of the
Government of Pakistan. UNHCR Pakistan hoped to resume
repatriation operations at the Peshawar VRC by mid-March.
5. (C) Kleinschmidt admitted that UNHCR remained severely
shaken by the February 2 abduction of Quetta sub-office
chief, Amcit John Solecki, and murder of his driver, Syed
Hashim. The UNHCR Pakistan country representative and her
deputy were working full-time to secure Solecki's release.
UNHCR would not resume repatriation operations in Quetta
until the Solecki case was resolved.
6. (C) On March 15 UNHCR Afghanistan Country Representative
Ewen MacLeod advised Regional RefCoord and Kabul RAS that
repatriation operations would not resume until April 1, at
the earliest. MacLeod had sought assurances from UNHCR
Pakistan that conditions between Peshawar and the Khyber Pass
were safe enough to send returning refugees, their families,
and their earthly possessions. He was dissatisfied with the
response and did not want to create incentives for refugees
to cross through an active counter-insurgency campaign.
7. (C) Conclusion: UNHCR's interest in assisting voluntary
repatriation is tempered by concern about its staff's safety
in Pakistan, and risks to returning refugees traveling to and
through the Khyber Pass. UNHCR Pakistan remains shaken by
the ongoing tragedy of the Solecki abduction. The delay puts
would-be returnees in a quandary. Insecurity is likely to
continue to push Afghan refugees from Pakistan, but
repatriation subsidies create an incentive to remain until
UNHCR resumes operations. We have been impressed by the
refugee grapevine, however, and believe the refugees will
obtain accurate enough intelligence to judge whether and when
to return to Afghanistan.
WOOD