Islamabad: Pakistan has expressed gratitude to Secretary General of the Norwegian Refugee Council, Jan Egeland, for highlighting the humanitarian challenges faced by Afghanistan.

According to Radio Pakistan, the Foreign Office emphasized that the international community should not have abandoned the Afghan people post-conflict and should have fostered conditions conducive to their socioeconomic development. Pakistan has hosted over four million Afghan refugees for four decades, sending back only those residing illegally without proper documentation. The Foreign Office also noted the slow progress on resettling Afghan nationals promised relocation to Western countries.

The statement further highlighted that UN humanitarian aid to Afghanistan remains significantly underfunded, with only 37.5 percent of the necessary funds secured last year. Pakistan and Afghanistan share deep historical, religious, and cultural ties that endure over time.

The Foreign Office reiterated Pakistan’s commitment to supporting efforts aimed at addressing the humanitarian crisis in Afghanistan and ensuring lasting peace and stability in the region.