ISLAMABAD - President Dr ArifAlvi Thursday urged the international community to assist Afghanistan as the country was in dire need of humanitarian and economic assistance.

He said this while discussing the current situation of Afghanistan with United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees Filippo Grandi, who called on him at Aiwan-e-Sadr.

He said that the long-drawn war had increased the miseries of Afghan people and the international community should not abandon Afghanistan alone and continue to provide economic and humanitarian assistance to its people. Welcoming the UNHCR, the President stated that Pakistan had played a major role in the promotion of peace and reconstruction of Afghanistan.

He said that Pakistan was the only country in the world which had hosted over 3.5 million Afghan refugees for the last four decades.

He added that Pakistan provided Afghan refugees access to health and education facilities, including facilitating them to open bank accounts and engage in commercial activities.

He highlighted that the world needed to acknowledge Pakistan’s role in the promotion of peace in Afghanistan and hosting millions of Afghan refugees for the past 40 years.

The President briefed Filippo Grandi about the recent humanitarian assistance and medical supplies being provided by Pakistan to the people of Afghanistan. He also highlighted Pakistan’s efforts in the evacuation of members of international organizations and diplomatic missions from Afghanistan.

The UNHCR appreciated Pakistan’s role in hosting millions of Afghan refugees and sending humanitarian assistance to Afghanistan.

Meanwhile, the UNHCR also held a meeting with Minister of State for Frontier Regions Sahibzada Mehmoob Sultan in Islamabad.

The UNHCR would address a press conference today and would depart to UN after the conclusion of his visit.