Pakistan to Intensify Deportation of Afghan Refugees After Eid Holidays
Pakistan is set to ramp up the deportation of Afghan refugees following the end of the Eid holidays, as the deadline for voluntary repatriation expired on March 31. This deadline had applied to all Afghan nationals, including those holding Afghan Citizen Cards.
Islamabad: Pakistan is set to ramp up the deportation of Afghan refugees following the end of the Eid holidays, as the deadline for voluntary repatriation expired on March 31. This deadline had applied to all Afghan nationals, including those holding Afghan Citizen Cards. The relaxation period granted during the Eid holidays has now come to a close, and Pakistan is moving forward with its repatriation plan.
Repatriation Process to Begin in Full Force
Despite confusion surrounding the Eid break, Pakistan’s Interior Ministry has confirmed that the deadline for voluntary returns has not been extended. Senior officials from the Afghan Commissionerate in Peshawar stated that the repatriation process would begin in full of Thursday, with camps established at Landi Kotal and Nasir Bagh Road to facilitate the return process.
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“Although the initial deadline was March 31, the provincial government extended it till April 2 to accommodate the Eid holidays. Now, phase 2 of the deportation will begin,” said an official, as reported by Pakistan’s Dawn newspaper.
Mass Repatriation Continues Amid International Concerns
As of April 1, over 886,000 undocumented Afghan nationals have left Pakistan, with repatriations still ongoing, according to The Express Tribune. Despite growing international calls for a deadline extension, the Pakistan government remains firm in its stance. Pakistan has dismissed concerns raised by the UNHCR and other global agencies about the humanitarian impact of forced returns.
The UNHCR’s spokesperson, Qaiser Khan Afridi, expressed concerns that some Afghan Citizen Card holders may require international protection. He urged the Pakistani government to consider the refugees’ needs through a humanitarian lens and facilitate dignified and voluntary returns, in collaboration with the Afghan government.
Afghan Government Appeals for Humane Treatment
The Afghan Taliban government has also intervened, calling on Pakistan to halt deportations. Mawlavi Abdul Kabir, Afghanistan’s Minister of Refugees and Repatriation, urged Pakistan and Iran to suspend the forced repatriation of Afghan nationals, emphasizing the need for humane treatment of refugees.
He highlighted reports of mistreatment at the border and the deportation of individuals holding legal visas, which have sparked concern among Afghan authorities.
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International Criticism Over Forced Deportations
Pakistan’s deportation policy has attracted strong criticism from human rights organizations worldwide. Human Rights Watch (HRW) condemned the forced deportations, urging Pakistan to cease the coercive actions and allow those facing expulsion the opportunity to seek protection. Elaine Pearson, Asia Director at HRW, stated, “Pakistani officials should immediately stop coercing Afghans to return home and give those facing expulsion the opportunity to seek protection.”
The situation remains tense, with the international community calling for a more humane approach to repatriation, while Pakistan maintains its position of enforcing the expulsion deadline. The coming weeks will reveal the extent of the implementation of this policy, as thousands of Afghan refugees face uncertainty in their return to Afghanistan.
