5,000 Afghan smuggled in 5 years

KABUL) held its fourth technical meeting on measures to prevent human trafficking and ensure the welfare of woman and children in Kabul on Friday.

Representatives from all the eight member countries and international organisations participated in the meeting, which also discussed ways of implementing SAARC conventions.

Human trafficking and kidnapping of women and children were a serious threat that needed to be warded off, Minister of Labour, Social, Martyr and Disabled Affairs Amina Afzali told the meeting.

As many as 12.7 million women, children and other people were smuggled across the world over the past five years.

Main reasons behind the incidents in Afghanistan were poverty, prolonged war, porous borders and unemployment, said Mirza Muhammad Yarmand, an interior ministry official, who urged member states to deal effectively with the common issue.

More than 610 cases of human smuggling were registered across Afghanistan last year. The number stands at 143 so far during current year, according to Yarmand.

The grouping includes Afghanistan, Pakistan, India, Bangladesh, Nepal, Bhutan, Sri Lanka and the Maldives.

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