GENEVA, Switzerland: Prime Minister Imran Khan has said that the World must step in to control the situation arising out of illegal steps by India as Pakistan is bound to suffer because such steps could have unprecedented consequences and impact on the refugee population.
“We know from our past experience ‘Prevention is better that cure’. If the world acts right now and put pressure on Indian government to stop this illegal activity, we can prevent this crisis,” the prime minister said in his address at the First Global Refugee Forum in Geneva on Tuesday.
Alluding to the situation in Indian Occupied Jammu & Kashmir (IOJ&K) as well as neighboring India, the prime minister warned the World Community of one of the biggest impending refugee crisis is about to take place due to the steps taken by the Modi government.
Referring to the revocation of Special Status of Occupied Kashmir by India on August 5, the prime minister said that eight million Kashmiris have been confined to their homes, and the world must realize that the main aim of the Indian government is to change the demographic composition of the territory from a Muslim majority to a Muslim minority.
Imran Khan said that the situation could lead to a refugee crisis and the World Community must take notice of the situation and put pressure on India to stop this illegal activity of settling in the Hindu population in the held valley. He cautioned the World that the situation in IOJ&K could also lead to a conflict between two nuclear armed Countries.
The prime minister said that Pakistan is already hosting millions of Afghan refugees and it will not be able to accommodate more refugees.
“I urge because Pakistan stand to suffer. As it is a country which is hosting three million refugees. A country which is trying to develop its own people, buy them their basic necessities. Our country will not be able to accommodate more refugees,” he said.
The prime minister said that the UN Secretary General António Guterres must also understand the complications of the steps taken by India in Assam to deprive the Muslim population of Indian nationality as well as the recently passed Citizenship Act.
Furthermore, he said that Pakistan is trying its level best for the success of Afghan peace process so that the Afghan refugees could return to their homeland with dignity.
The prime minister stressed that there is only political settlement of the Afghan conflict so that the people of Afghanistan who have been suffering from over 40 years of conflict finally can enjoy the dividends of peace.
Imran Khan said that the people of Pakistan hosted four million Afghan refugees with generosity for about four decades and there are still three million refugees in the Country including 1.4 million registered ones.
“As a Prime Minister, I can tell you that we face daily problems where our people want jobs and clearly, refugees can become a target. But I’m very proud of my people. The way people of Pakistan has hosted the refugees, the hospitality shown for over 40 years, it’s commendable,” he said.
In addition, the prime minister also invited the UN secretary general to visit Pakistan in February next year for the Refugees Conference.
