Afghan refugees are trickling into India following US bombings of their country even as the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) has asked the Government to consider a national law on refugees.
There has been a trickle of Afghan refugees of Indian origin here following the US bombing over Afghanistan, Wei Meng Lim Kabaa, Deputy Chief of Mission of UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) New Delhi, said. While only 35 individuals, mainly Sikh and Hindus, have applied to UNHCR for the status of refugee, according to Khalsa Diwan Welfare Society (KDWS), a network support group for refugees, nearly 100 Afghan refugees have come here with about 500 more waiting to do so in various parts of Pakistan.
Agreeing that there were many more refugees coming to India as compared to those who have applied for the refugee status at present, Kabaa said the mission has sent a proposal to the government regarding a national law on refugees.
India was not a signatory to the UN Convention on Refugees, she said, but "we have sent a proposal to Home, External Affiars and Law Ministries to consider a national law on refugees in a bid to provide for equal facilities to refugees from all the countries". Bureau Report