The regional Solutions Strategy for Afghan Refugees (SSAR) will remain the main framework for the identification and implementation of lasting solutions for Afghan refugees in Pakistan in 2018. As per this strategy, voluntary repatriation in safety and dignity remains a key priority which is closely linked with sustainable reintegration support from Afghanistan. The Governments of Pakistan and Afghanistan reaffirmed their commitment to these priorities during the 28th Tripartite Commission meeting in February 2017. Due to concerns over the sustainability of maintaining the cash grant at the same level as 2016 (USD 400 per person), the reintegration cash grant has been reduced to USD 200 per individual in February 2017. Proactive outreach, advocacy and engagement with stakeholders and key development actors will continue in 2018 to mobilize resources.
UNHCR operates two Voluntary Repatriation Centres (VRCs), one in Balochistan and one in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. UNHCR envisages that up to 200,000 refugees will return with UNHCR’s support in 2018. However, this depends on a multitude of factors inter alia bilateral relations between Pakistan and Afghanistan, protection environment in Pakistan, and reintegration support (e.g. land, shelter and livelihood prospects) in Afghanistan.
Volatility and unpredictability in the sub-region combined with politicization of the asylum space and a deteriorating security situation in Afghanistan may remain as challenges in 2018. Despite these, UNHCR will continue to facilitate those wishing to return in close coordination with the Governments of Afghanistan and Pakistan. UNHCR will focus on ensuring the voluntariness of return and mitigating against any unwarranted pressures for return. For this, enhanced information dissemination and access to UNHCR, regular dialogue with communities, continued sensitization of law enforcement authorities on the rights of refugees, and exit interviews at the VRCs will be prioritized. Moreover, UNHCR will strengthen its protection safeguards for returning refugees through route patrolling, border monitoring and prioritization of vulnerable persons at the VRC, at the border and eventually at the Encashment Centres in Afghanistan. UNHCR will also enhance its cross-border coordination between Afghanistan and Pakistan to address protection concerns of returnees as well as with relevant government partners in both Afghanistan and Pakistan to establish linkages between potential returnees and livelihood initiatives for successful reintegration in Afghanistan.