Afghanistan asks Pakistan to postpone refugee camp closure

[maddezmom]

KABUL (AFP) - Afghanistan called on Pakistan to postpone the closure of all refugee camps in the Pakistani tribal regions, which are being shut by the end of the month for what Islamabad says are security reasons.

The Afghan government said in a statement that every decision about the fate of the 32 camps being closed should follow an earlier three-way agreement between Islamabad, Kabul and the United Nations refugee agency (UNHCR).

"The fate of Afghan refugees is legally bound to be taken in accordance with the international law and the provisions of a tripartite agreement," the Afghan government said in a statement on Monday.

Thousands of refugees are defying the orders, protesting that they need at least two years to move out of the camps which have provided shelter for more than 20 years to Afghans fleeing their war-torn homeland.

more:http://news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/afp/20050823/wl_sthasia_afp/afghanistanpakistanrefugees_050823062820