ISLAMABAD, June 3. /Dunyo IA/.  Pakistani publications “Daily Spokesman”, “The World News” and “Infora News” have published articles dedicated to the seven-year outcomes of the “Mehr” humanitarian operations implemented by Uzbekistan to return citizens from armed conflict zones, reports Dunyo IA correspondent.

The author of the publications, Temur Akhmedov, Head of Department at the Institute for Strategic and Interregional Studies under the President of Uzbekistan, noted that protecting the rights and legitimate interests of the country's citizens, wherever they may be, has become a significant manifestation of state responsibility and humanism. One of the most complex areas of this work has been the repatriation of compatriots from Syria, Iraq and Afghanistan.

According to the expert, Uzbekistan was among the first to abandon the policy of alienation toward citizens trapped in conflict zones, creating its own model of repatriation and rehabilitation. The first “Mehr” operation was conducted on May 30, 2019, by order of President Shavkat Mirziyoyev. At that time, 156 citizens, predominantly women and children, were returned to their homeland from Syria.

Subsequent stages of the humanitarian mission followed. Within the framework of the “Mehr-2” operation, Uzbekistan took under its guardianship 64 children whose mothers were in foreign places of detention. Despite the pandemic and strict quarantine restrictions, 98 women and children were evacuated from the Syrian camps Al-Hol and Roj during the “Mehr-3” operation. “Mehr-4” operation ensured the return of 24 citizens from Afghanistan, and during the final stage, “Mehr-5” another 92 individuals arrived in Uzbekistan, including 68 children, among whom were orphans.

In total, thanks to the “Mehr” operations, more than 530 people have been returned to their homeland, with children making up approximately 75 percent of the returnees. The abiding principle of the program remains the tenet that children should not bear responsibility for the mistakes of their parents.

The Pakistani media also emphasized that the results of the repatriation of Uzbek citizens have been highly praised by the international community. It is noted that the UN views Uzbekistan's experience as one of the most successful humanitarian examples and recommends it as a benchmark for other states.