§ Mr. MaddenTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make it his policy to instigate the discussions with representatives of the Pakistan Government, together with the United Kingdom's European partners, to assess the political, economic and social implications of Afghan refugees and displaced persons remaining in Pakistan; if he will make it his policy to undertake, with the United Kingdom's European partners, a comprehensive strategy designed to enable Afghans to return to their own country; and if he will make a statement. [23096]
§ Mr. BaldryThe status of Afghan refugees in Pakistan is regularly monitored by the world food programme and the UN High Commissioner for Refugees and the results discussed with the Pakistan Government and bilateral donors. A joint WFP/UNHCR/donors food assessment mission, including an EC representative, has just ended. It found that Afghan refugees in Pakistan enjoy a relatively good socio-economic and nutritional status. It expects that 200,000 refugees will return from Pakistan this year.
The mission's full report will form the basis of a conference organised by UNDP and Sweden in Stockholm on 1–2 June. The conference will discuss how to bring about the transition from humanitarian assistance to longer-term rehabilitation, reconstruction and 464W development, necessary to enable Afghans to return to their own country.