ISLAMABAD: Minister for States and Frontier Regions Lt General (Rtd) Abdul Qadir Baloch has said that Pakistan wants honourable repatriation of Afghan refugees to their country.

In an interview with PTV, he said three million Afghan refugees have been living in Pakistan for decades and now it is time to send them back as they are a burden on national economy.

He said UNHCR is providing assistance for only one point five million registered refugees of the total three million.   

The minister said du ring the Hamid Karzai government in Afghanistan, no sincere effort was made for the repatriation of refugees from Pakistan.

However, current Afghan President Ashraf Ghani has shown some commitment in this regard.    

He said the international community should acknowledge Pakistan's services to Afghan refugees and help in their respectful repatriation.    

To a question about China-Pakistan Economic Corridor western route, the minister said the Pakistan Army had ensured foolproof security of the route where development work was underway.      

To another question, he said some 2.5 Internally Displaced Persons had been sent back to their native areas and the remaining would also be sent back soon.