ISLAMABAD: Pakistan and Iran host 90 percent of Afghan refugees, according to a report released by the United Nations on Wednesday, as the humanitarian crisis in Afghanistan shows no signs of abating, leading to a displacement of 9.7 million of its nationals until the middle of this year.
Afghanistan witnessed an end to a war that lasted for about two decades in August 2021 when the United States-led international forces pulled out of the country and the Taliban swept back to power by seizing control of Kabul and extending administrative outreach to other cities.
While the conflict has largely subsided, the UN report on forced displacement noted that rising prices, a collapsing economy and ever-increasing restrictions on the rights of women and girls continued to cause social and economic miseries.
“Poverty is endemic, half of the population of more than 40 million people faces acute food insecurity, and nearly 3.3 million people in the country remained displaced from their homes at mid-2023,” it said while pointing out that the total number of Afghan refugees had globally increased from 5.7 million to 6.1 million.
“Together, the Islamic Republic of Iran (3.4 million) and Pakistan (2.1 million) hosted 90 percent of all Afghan refugees,” the report added.
The UN also highlighted that the total number of refugees had increased worldwide by 1.2 million or 3 percent during the first half of the year due to outbreak of conflicts in places like Sudan and the continuation of the war in Ukraine.
By the end of June, there were an estimated 35.8 million refugees globally, most of whom have been in displacement for many years.
“The world’s focus now is – rightly – on the humanitarian catastrophe in Gaza,” said UN High Commissioner for Refugees Filippo Grandi. “But globally, far too many conflicts are proliferating or escalating, shattering innocent lives and uprooting people.”
“The international community’s inability to solve conflicts or prevent new ones is driving displacement and misery,” he added. “We must look within, work together to end conflicts and allow refugees and other displaced people to return home or restart their lives.”
UN report reveals Pakistan and Iran host 90 percent Afghan refugees amid ongoing crisis
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UN report reveals Pakistan and Iran host 90 percent Afghan refugees amid ongoing crisis
- The UN says the total number of Afghan refugees has globally increased from 5.7 million to 6.1 million
- The UN report laments the international community’s inability to solve old conflicts and prevent new ones
Pakistan alarmed as Russia-Ukraine conflict intensifies, calls for immediate ceasefire
- Pakistan envoy urges both sides to resolve ongoing conflict through peaceful means during Security Council briefing
- Russia last Friday fired hypersonic ballistic missile capable of carrying nuclear warhead at Ukraine, drawing criticism
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s UN Ambassador Iftikhar Ahmad this week expressed alarm as the Russia-Ukraine conflict intensifies, calling for an immediate ceasefire and demanding both countries resolve their issues peacefully through dialogue.
The development takes place days after Russia last week fired an intermediate-range hypersonic ballistic missile at Ukraine called Oreshnik. The move drew sharp criticism as the missile is capable of carrying nuclear and conventional warheads. Russia said it fired the Oreshnik in response to what Moscow says was an attempted Ukrainian drone attack on Dec. 29 against one of Putin’s residences in northern Russia. Ukraine denies Moscow’s claims.
February 2026 will mark four years since Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine, triggering the worst armed conflict in Europe since World War II. The war has killed hundreds of thousands of people and forced millions to flee their homes.
“We are alarmed by the recent intensification in fighting with escalation in attacks from both sides, further worsening the already dire humanitarian situation,” Ahmad said on Monday during a UN Security Council briefing on the Ukraine conflict.
“Such actions not only perpetuate the conflict, but they also undermine trust, and the ongoing efforts for peace.”
The Pakistani envoy urged both sides to abide by the principles of international law and ensure civilians and civilian infrastructure are protected during the conflict. He said Pakistan’s position on resolving the issue through dialogue has not changed.
“Now, more than ever before, the overwhelming global opinion is on the side of ending this conflict through peaceful means,” Ahmad said. “This can only be achieved through a sustained, meaningful and structured dialogue.”
US President Donald Trump has been pushing both sides to strike a deal to halt the conflict, running shuttle diplomacy between Ukraine’s Volodymyr Zelensky and Russia’s Vladimir Putin in a bid to get an agreement across the line. Plans to broker peace collapsed after an initial 28-point plan, which largely adhered to Moscow’s demands, was criticized by Kyiv and Europe.
Ahmad appreciated the US for attempting to resolve the conflict through peaceful means.
“We hope that all sides would make full use of the ongoing diplomacy, demonstrate genuine political will, and engage constructively to make meaningful strides toward a peaceful and negotiated settlement of the conflict, starting with an immediate ceasefire,” he said.
