Afghanistan Pakistan People's Friendship Association
Encyclopedia
The Afghanistan Pakistan People's Friendship Association is a non-governmental organization
group which operates in Pakistan
and Afghanistan
. These two South Asian nations neighbor each other and have had at times turbulent relationships. The aims of the association are to promote various issues such as refugees, free trade zones, education, landmines, and poverty, as well as challenging government policies. The organisation organises various conferences, including collaborative efforts with the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan.
, Quetta
and Karachi
.
In June 2003 the association, along with the human rights commission of Pakistan, organised a conference in the city of Karachi
to discuss the situation of Afghan refugees. The conference criticised various government policies including military action in the Mohmand Agency
which borders Afghanistan. The conference claimed that such actions were an impediment to the normalisation of relations between the two countries. The association has also urged both countries to release each other's citizens in jail for petty offences as well as urging Pakistan to relax visa restrictions for Afghans.
Non-governmental organization
A non-governmental organization is a legally constituted organization created by natural or legal persons that operates independently from any government. The term originated from the United Nations , and is normally used to refer to organizations that do not form part of the government and are...
group which operates in Pakistan
Pakistan
Pakistan , officially the Islamic Republic of Pakistan is a sovereign state in South Asia. It has a coastline along the Arabian Sea and the Gulf of Oman in the south and is bordered by Afghanistan and Iran in the west, India in the east and China in the far northeast. In the north, Tajikistan...
and Afghanistan
Afghanistan
Afghanistan , officially the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, is a landlocked country located in the centre of Asia, forming South Asia, Central Asia and the Middle East. With a population of about 29 million, it has an area of , making it the 42nd most populous and 41st largest nation in the world...
. These two South Asian nations neighbor each other and have had at times turbulent relationships. The aims of the association are to promote various issues such as refugees, free trade zones, education, landmines, and poverty, as well as challenging government policies. The organisation organises various conferences, including collaborative efforts with the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan.
History
The Afghanistan Pakistan People's Friendship Association was established in December 2001. Under this Friendship Association three conferences have been held at PeshawarPeshawar
Peshawar is the capital of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa and the administrative center and central economic hub for the Federally Administered Tribal Areas of Pakistan....
, Quetta
Quetta
is the largest city and the provincial capital of the Balochistan Province of Pakistan. Known as the "Fruit Garden of Pakistan" due to the diversity of its plant and animal wildlife, Quetta is home to the Hazarganji Chiltan National Park, which contains some of the rarest species of wildlife in the...
and Karachi
Karachi
Karachi is the largest city, main seaport and the main financial centre of Pakistan, as well as the capital of the province of Sindh. The city has an estimated population of 13 to 15 million, while the total metropolitan area has a population of over 18 million...
.
In June 2003 the association, along with the human rights commission of Pakistan, organised a conference in the city of Karachi
Karachi
Karachi is the largest city, main seaport and the main financial centre of Pakistan, as well as the capital of the province of Sindh. The city has an estimated population of 13 to 15 million, while the total metropolitan area has a population of over 18 million...
to discuss the situation of Afghan refugees. The conference criticised various government policies including military action in the Mohmand Agency
Mohmand Agency
The Mohmand Agency is a district in the Federally Administered Tribal Areas of Pakistan created in 1951. Before that, the Mohmand Tribes were administered by the Deputy Commissioner based in Peshawar, Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa province of Pakistan. However it was not until 1973 that the headquarters of...
which borders Afghanistan. The conference claimed that such actions were an impediment to the normalisation of relations between the two countries. The association has also urged both countries to release each other's citizens in jail for petty offences as well as urging Pakistan to relax visa restrictions for Afghans.