PAKISTAN: PAKISTANI AUTHORITIES PUT THE AFGHAN REFUGEES UNDER SURVEILLANCE FOR FEARS OF POSSIBLE BACKLASH IF THE US LAUNCHES REPRISALS AGAINST AFGHANISTAN

Record ID: 275296

  • Title: PAKISTAN: PAKISTANI AUTHORITIES PUT THE AFGHAN REFUGEES UNDER SURVEILLANCE FOR FEARS OF POSSIBLE BACKLASH IF THE US LAUNCHES REPRISALS AGAINST AFGHANISTAN
  • Date: 25th September 2001
  • Summary: (U5)ISLAMABAD, PAKISTAN (SEPTEMBER 25-26, 2001) (REUTERS - ACCESS ALL) 1. GENERAL VIEW AFGHAN VILLAGE IN ISLAMABAD WHERE 64,000 AFGHAN PEOPLE LIVE 2. MV GIRLS PICKING UP FIREWOOD 0.11 3. MV/SV FAMILY MOVING GOODS INTO MUD HOUSE (2 SHOTS) 0.22 4. SV/SCU BOY PICKING UP FIREWOOD 0.28 5. MV WOMEN IN BURQAS / VEIL ON ROAD IN VIL
  • Embargoed: 10th October 2001 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: ISLAMABAD, PAKISTAN
  • Country: Pakistan
  • Reuters ID: LVA4HJ55S5H3DFNJ460XOZPUNS3F
  • Story Text: Pakistani authorities have put the country's vast
    Afghan refugee population under surveillance because of fears
    of a possible backlash if the U.S. launches reprisals against
    Afghanistan.



    This dusty enclave, in the heart of Islamabad, is a
    city within a city - home to more than 60,000 Afghan refugees.

    Over the past 20 years, a mini-Afghanistan has grown up
    here - a permanent fixture in the Pakistani capital, where new
    generations of Afghans have been born and raised.

    But in the wake of the September 11 attacks on the United
    States and warnings of reprisals against Afghanistan for
    harbouring prime suspect Osama bin Laden, the future of this
    village is under threat.

    Pakistan's Interior Ministry has said it is keeping the
    country's two million Afghan refugees "under watch and under
    surveillance".

    There are fears that if the Americans hit back at
    Afghanistan, then the huge refugee population in Pakistan may
    try and retaliate against countries like Pakistan who have
    sided with the U.S.

    Even though the majority of people in this village fled
    the Taliban regime, many say they would not stand idly by if
    they saw their homeland under attack.

    "If the U.S. attacks us, we will smash it up. The
    Americans are finding excuses to attack us, but the attack
    will become a reason to bring the downfall of the United
    States. Afghanistan's Mujahideen have fought the Russians,
    they have fought the British and they will fight the
    Americans," Maulvi Abdul Rahman, a villager, said.

    In recent days, there has been mounting concern in
    Pakistan over the loyalties of the Afghan population with some
    Pakistanis fearing that the refugees could become the enemy
    within. Now, there is increasing pressure for the government
    to move refugees away from urban centres.

    The Interior Ministry says they have been planning to
    move the refugees for several months, but due to a lack of
    funds the plans were put on hold. But for the public at large,
    recent tensions have made the move a priority.

    Secretary of the Interior, Tasneem Noorani, said in an
    interview that while relations with the refugees were good,
    there was concern that the atmosphere in Afghan camps and
    enclaves could turn volatile.

    "This is the first time in the last 20 years we're facing
    where there may be a potential affinity between - or there may
    be a confrontation, potential confrontation between the
    government policies and refugees thought process," said
    Noorani.

    The government hopes to relocate these refugees in rural
    areas, but it is unclear how the thousands of families would
    be able to support themselves away from the city that provides
    a livelihood.

    But not all the refugees here are willing to fight back
    against the country that has given them a home.

    "When Russia attacked us, Pakistan gave us refuge.

    Pakistan and America helped us to throw out the Russians. But
    now the U.S. is planning to attack us so we are against it.

    But Pakistan is a friend, it gave us refuge so we cannot be
    against Pakistan," said Maulvi Abu Saeed.


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