ISLAMABAD:
Pakistan anticipates that the repatriation process for approximately 1.7 million undocumented Afghans will be completed within a year, with the government remaining firm in its decision.
Since the expiration of the deadline for all such illegal migrants, authorities have intensified efforts to deport undocumented Afghans. More than two hundred thousand Afghans have left the country thus far.
Read more:The Deadline for illegal refugees to leave Pakistan has expired
A senior government official clarified that the policy to remove all illegal migrants, regardless of their nationality, had been under consideration for over a year. The official emphasized that the current decision should not be linked to the TTP or its relationship with the Afghan government, dispelling the notion that Pakistan was using it as leverage to pressure Kabul.
Pakistan’s stance is that at the very least, those without legal documents must return to their home country. The official stated that Afghans with proof of residence and Afghan citizenship cards need not be concerned. However, those without any form of identity pose a challenge.
The official noted that Pakistan has set a one-year timeline for the completion of the repatriation process for all undocumented Afghans.
The United Nations and other human rights organizations have raised concerns about Pakistan’s policy, and the Kabul government has criticized Islamabad, demanding an end to the “harassment” of its nationals.
Nevertheless, the official strongly denied allegations of mistreatment, pointing out that Pakistan exempted women and children from biometric requirements for repatriation and directed authorities to treat returning Afghans with “honor and dignity.”
Regarding Afghan nationals eligible for resettlement in the United States, the official mentioned that Pakistan is ready to assist friendly countries. However, he lamented that Pakistan received the list of such Afghans on the final day of the deadline. Pakistan had agreed, as a goodwill gesture, to allow certain Afghan nationals to stay in the country before their resettlement in other nations, based on requests from the United States and other western countries.
At the time, Pakistan was assured that the cases of these individuals would be expedited, but no progress has been made despite more than two years having passed. Washington had earlier shared a list of 25,000 Afghan nationals eligible for asylum or settlement in the United States, but Pakistan found the list “incomplete and flawed.”
On Friday, a U.S. official stated that Washington was in close and constant contact with the Government of Pakistan regarding the safety of individuals in the U.S. pipelines. The official emphasized the mutual interest in protecting vulnerable Afghans and facilitating their safe and efficient resettlement and relocation to the United States. The United States had shared a list with Pakistan of Afghan individuals in the U.S. resettlement and relocation pipelines and sent letters to these individuals for identification purposes. The official mentioned that they shared only what was necessary to ensure that individuals applying to resettle in the United States were not deported from Pakistan and could depart Pakistan for resettlement in the United States. The desire to work through any issues or concerns with the Government of Pakistan was expressed.
