Pakistan, Sept. 30 -- Malaysia has begun sending Myanmar nationals home. Around 1,500 people, including children, were moved under police escort to Lumut on Tuesday before being placed aboard Myanmar naval vessels. Kuala Lumpur calls the programme voluntary and intends eventually to return as many as 5,000 people. However, the UNHCR says conditions inside Myanmar do not support safe and sustainable return and was not involved in deciding who should go.

Malaysia has carried a burden the rest of Southeast Asia has been happy to leave largely on its shoulders. It hosts about 193,000 registered refugees from Myanmar, roughly two-thirds of them Rohingya. Its government speaks of mounting financial costs, social pressures and security concerns...