By Fidel Rahmati in The Khaama Press Online, November 14, 2023
Pakistan’s Interim Interior Minister, Sarfraz Bugti, has refuted claims of mistreatment of Afghan migrants by Pakistani security forces. He assured that refugees with immigration cards will not face deportation from Pakistan, addressing the issue during a session in the Pakistani Senate on November 13.
Bugti revealed that around 300,000 illegal Afghan migrants have voluntarily returned to Afghanistan from Pakistan, with only 8,000 deportations carried out by Islamabad.
Pakistani political parties in the Senate have also urged the government to halt the deportation of Afghan migrants.
However, Balochistan’s acting Minister of Information, Jan Achakzai, stated that once the deportation of illegal immigrants is completed, Islamabad will initiate the return process for “registered refugees” to their home countries, raising concerns among Afghan migrants.
Meanwhile, despite calls from the United Nations and human rights organizations urging Pakistan to reconsider its decision and cease the forced expulsion of migrants, the interim government of Pakistan has not responded positively to these requests, maintaining its stance on the matter.
On the other hand, the International Crisis Group (ICG) has issued a warning to Pakistan regarding the forced deportation of Afghan migrants, expressing grave concerns about the potential for a humanitarian catastrophe. In a recent report, the ICG underscored that this policy could have wide-ranging implications, impacting Pakistan and affecting the entire region.
According to the International Crisis Group (ICG), the forced expulsion of Afghan refugees by Pakistan carries the risk of exacerbating security concerns for both countries.
As the Taliban struggles to cope with the influx of returning Afghans seeking livelihoods to support their families, there is a genuine concern that some may resort to criminal activities or even join armed opposition groups against the Taliban’s rule.
In an unexpected twist, the ICG highlighted the potential advantage for the Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) amid this turmoil. Returnees, who have familiarity with Pakistan, might be susceptible to being influenced to launch attacks against the state that disrupted their lives, potentially bolstering the TTP’s position in the region.
Significantly, Pakistan initiated nationwide round-up operations following the expiry of the voluntary departure deadline on November 1. While the Taliban perceives the expulsion of refugees as a pressure tactic employed by Pakistan, it denies that such actions pose any risks to regional stability.
https://www.khaama.com/pakistan-will-not-expel-afghan-refugees-holding-legal-documents-minister/
