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Millions of Afghan refugees are returning to an uncertain future

OLIVER MOORE

From Thursday's Globe and Mail

Latest comment posted at 1:30 PM EDT 28/03/08

Flow of repatriated is tangible evidence that Afghans think their country is improving, writes the Globe's Oliver Moore ...Read the full article

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  1. Bert Russell Paradox, BC from Canada writes:

    In the world according to Dion, he would have the Canadian troops taking these people prisoner, as they were coming out of Pakistan to join the Taliban.
  2. Dickie Whithers from Coldwater, Canada writes:

    These threads dont usually go WAAAAAAAAY off topic until several dozen people have posted.

    Congratulations Bert!!

    .
  3. Krakatoa East of Java from Canada writes: refugees are not stupid - they will move from a low security zone to a high security zone - but they can only walk not swim so where else can they go?
  4. UCant Haveitall from Canada writes: Dickie Withers - LMAO! You are so correct and note how Krakatoa has pointed out the absence of swimming lessons for refugees as well. Comments are no longer required. Dear Globe staff - close this one now before we get even further off topic.
  5. Khalid Rahim from scarborough, Canada writes: The majority of Afghans who came to Pakistan at the time of Soviet invasion and the civil war between Taliban and North Alliance, did not
    want to return. They established businesses, children went to school
    inter-marriages took place. It was easy for them to apply as refugees
    and move to other countries.The invasion ofv Afghanistan by the US in 2001, changed the situation in Pakistan. Mushaaraf and his junta began to hound them.Caught between fire and the frying pan; most decided to cross over and seek their fortune with the new masters of
    their homeland.As one Afghan from whom we used to buy different goods and my aunt taught his children, told her that we have been cursed for not bring our King back from exile when we should have!
    Now that he is gone and we will remain slaves to outsiders.
  6. globefan Eh from Canada writes: Refugee camps in countries that can't feed millions are never pleasant places, I am not surprised they are returning home no matter what they face.
  7. MR. oz from Canada writes: any indication of afghans living in Canada returning from where they came?
  8. UCant Haveitall from Canada writes: Wow - seems really quiet on this topic...where are all the guys who continually point out "that things are far worse now", "NATO is losing the war", "all is lost"............yoo-hooo - come out come out wherever you are...........
  9. Joe Gopher from Canada writes: Yes, I haven't heard anything about the Brutal Afghan Winter either. That was a hot topic at one time. I then some intrepid reporter looked at the temperature and that whole idea kinda fizzled out.
    Maybe we'll be hearing about theTaliban's SPRING OFFENSIVE!
    Of course every time the Taliban tries that they get their asses kicked.
  10. deliciously uncanadian from Canada writes: Nay Sayers take note.

    People voting with their feet are not out trying to score political points.
  11. Eris Korenyx from The Heart of Hell, Libyan Arab Jamahiriya writes: Hurray! This is great news!

    Let the millions of returning Afghan refugees fight the Taliban for their OWN country instead relying on us to die bailing them out of their troubles.

    BRING THE TROOPS HOME!

  12. Catherine Medernach from Winnipeg, Canada writes: While some refugees are returning because they believe things are improving in Afghanistan others are being pressed to return by their host countries - Pakistan and Iran. The objectives of the host countries are probably not just to be rid of the refugees but to create additional pressures in Afghanistan. Pakistan helped the Taliban become established in Afghanistan in the first place. Iran does not want Afghanistan to suceed in becoming a democratic country which would create further problems for them. Like al-Qaeda, Iran wants all countries in the region to be theocratic and operate under Sharia law.
    BTW the majority are heading for Kabul not southern Afghanistan where security continues to be an issue.
  13. Dave R. from Canada writes: Powerless landless refugees caught in a war zone between warring factions are the most vulnerable people in the world. Slaves have a better lot. War refugees will always curry favour with whomever is offering the basic necessities of life. This mass return to Afghanistan is less an indication they love the new Karzai "democracy" and NATO troops, more about being abused in other countries and looking for some of the Western foreign aid largesse.All the billions in promised reconstruction money was sure to attract a stampede back from Pakistan, but of course, very little of it is making its way into the hands of the refugees. Afghans have always lived hand to mouth currying favour with whoever is in power, be it warlord, druglord, Soviet commisars, American CIA offcials or, now, Western troops and NGO's.They are like pinballs caught in the machine of imperialism, British, American, Russian and Indian. In Kandahar, the Afghans take what the Western occupiers give them by day, and pay lip service to the Taleban at night. Very sad, but they do basically hate foreign invaders and inifidels. As soon as NATO pulls out, a large percentage will join the Taleban, pretending they had never co-operated with the foreign infidel. And 10-1 there will be a civil war.
  14. UCant Haveitall from Canada writes: Challenges, yes there are many but one's homeland is still one's homeland. Good on them for taking the risk. Well done to all those who contributed to a more safe, secure land.
  15. Globe Insider subscriber content
    Richard Roskell from Canada writes: "The return of millions of refugees is seen as one of the great success stories of post-Taliban Afghanistan. More accurate than any poll, aid workers like to say, this flow of people is tangible evidence that Afghans themselves think their country is improving. ...an estimated five million people have been repatriated in barely six years."

    Imagine! Five million returning refugees. What a success story!

    There is a bit of a fly in the ointment, though. Five million refugees is greater than the total number of existing refugees. It would mean that the country looks so good that MILLIONS of people are declaring themselves refugees just so that they can go to Afghanistan!

    Have a look at the official refugee statistics as published by the United Nations Office of Refugees.

    Here are the statistics published by the UN of the "Total Population of Concern" (the broadest refugee category) for Afghanistan:

    At the end of 2001: 3,809,645

    At the end of 2006: 2,751,000

    As you can see, it would be a remarkable thing for 5,000,000 refugees to return when there were less than 4 million to begin with.

    Furthermore, according to the UN, a little over 1 million refugees returned to Afghanistan during the 5 year interval between the end of 2001 and the end of 2006. So are we to believe that during the last year and a few months, an additional 4 million refugees returned to Afghanistan? Wouldn't that be something?
  16. Globe Insider subscriber content
    Richard Roskell from Canada writes: First off, recall that Pakistan and Iran are FORCING refugees to return to Afghanistan. So whatever the true numbers are, it ain't because of great conditions in Afghanistan that people are coming back. And why would they voluntarily return? Refugees flee to avoid conflict, and Afghanistan is again in a conflicted state.

    And what are the refugees returning to? Here, take a look:

    "Inside the camp, the first thing that hits like a brick wall, is the stench of human waste and sickness, so strong that even those, who now call it home, cover their noses to protect against the pungent smell."

    That's from a CTV report from a year ago on a refugee camp in Kandahar. The report is called "Afghan refugees forced home, but to what?" Google CTV and that title and you can read the full report; if you have a strong stomach.

    There is a WAR going on in Afghanistan, and thousands of people are dying every year from it. There is no significant rebuilding going on. Refugees are being FORCED by former host countries to return. Now you tell me: are the returned refugees supposed to be an indicator of success in Afghanistan?

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