thousands of afghans depart pakistan prior to deportation threat deadline
Published on: November 1, 2023.
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The government of Pakistan has announced a deadline for undocumented or unregistered foreigners, including Afghan migrants, to leave the country. The deadline, set for October 31st, is part of a new anti-migrant crackdown by the Islamabad government. While the campaign is said to target all undocumented foreigners, it predominantly affects Afghans, who make up the majority of migrants in Pakistan.
This expulsion campaign has faced criticism from various organizations, including UN agencies, human rights groups, and the Taliban-led administration in Afghanistan. The UN agencies estimate that there are over two million undocumented Afghans residing in Pakistan, with at least 600,000 fleeing to Pakistan following the Taliban’s takeover in 2021.
Despite the government’s claim that it is not targeting Afghans specifically, the move comes at a time when relations between Pakistan and the Taliban rulers in Afghanistan are strained. Pakistan accuses Kabul of providing sanctuary to Taliban-linked militants who carry out attacks in Pakistan, allegations that the Taliban denies.
Many Afghans who have been living in Pakistan for decades are now being forced to return to their homeland. Mohammad Amin, a 52-year-old Afghan residing in Peshawar, shared his family’s story, saying that his father came to Pakistan 40 years ago and both his parents passed away in the country. However, they never registered as refugees with the UN refugee agency. As the deadline looms, Mr. Amin and others like him are preparing to return to Afghanistan.
To accommodate those who have arrived at the Torkham and Chaman border crossings between Pakistan and Afghanistan, Pakistani officials have decided to keep these crossings open beyond their regular closure time of 4pm.
Since the crackdown began, over 200,000 Afghans have already left Pakistan, according to Pakistani officials. UN agencies have also reported a significant increase in the number of Afghans leaving the country before the deadline.
This crackdown has raised concerns among thousands of Afghans in Pakistan who were waiting to be relocated to the United States under a special refugee program after fleeing the Taliban takeover.
In conclusion, the Pakistan government’s deadline for undocumented or unregistered foreigners has primarily affected Afghan migrants. The campaign has drawn international criticism and sparked an increase in the number of Afghans returning to their homeland. There are concerns for those who were planning to relocate to the United States as refugees.
