ISLAMABAD
The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) has said that Pakistan has been hosting Afghan refugees for the last over 40 years without receiving any funds in return.
On the other hand, the European Union Agency of Asylum and the International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) have termed the presence of millions of illegal immigrants on Pakistani soil a threat to the country.
The report says that 1.7 million Afghans are living in the country illegally without any proof and registration. “Pakistan is not the only country which has decided to evict illegal Afghan nationals,” it says, adding, “Iran, too, in 2021 had ordered over one million Afghans to leave the country.”
Since the Taliban’s takeover of Afghanistan in August 2021, over 1,600,000 Afghans have sought refuge in the neighbouring nations of Pakistan, Iran, and Tajikistan, with over 70 per cent being women and children.
The latest figures from the UNHCR estimate that over 3,700,000 Afghans currently reside in Pakistan, with only 1,330,000 registered as refugees.
Pakistan is not a signatory to the UN Refugee Convention and lacks a national asylum system. The UN’s contractee for refugee registration, the Society for Human Rights and Prisoners’ Aid (SHARP) has been criticised for its protracted administrative processes, leaving many in Pakistan without a way to attain protection or the required documentation. The visas of many refugees who initially held regular entry permits have now expired.
In response to the new order, the Federation of Afghanistan Journalists in Exile (FAJE), a newly formed organisation advocating for journalists in Afghanistan and the diaspora, called on the United Nations, Pakistani authorities, and international organisations to increase support measures for Afghan journalists in exile, cease the arrests and abuse in custody by law enforcement, and raised concerns over the wellbeing of journalists and trade unionists deported to Afghanistan.
Afghan nationals living in Pakistan have been facing the ire of the authorities after the apex committee a few weeks ago asked them to leave the country by October 31 or else face the music.
The decision was taken in view of their participation in incidents of violence of May 9 as well as involvement in incidents of terrorism.
Meanwhile, the process of repatriation of Afghan nationals is underway and about fifteen hundred and thirty (1530) more Afghans have been repatriated to Afghanistan via Torkham border.
According to details, one hundred fifty two Afghan families were sent back in forty nine vehicles. These include three hundred ninety two men, two hundred fifty seven women and eight hundred eighty one children.
Over one point seven million Afghans are residing in Pakistan illegally.
According to the European Union Agency of Asylum and IFJ, foreign nationals residing illegally in Pakistan are involved in the terror activities and financial crimes.
Pakistan is not only a country in the world which decided to repatriate the Afghan nationals for safeguarding its own interests, but Iran also expelled over one million Afghans in 2021.
It is pertinent to mention that foreign nationals residing illegally in Pakistan have sixteen days for voluntary repatriation to their native countries.
No action will be taken against illegal foreign nationals, including Afghans till the 1st of next month, in case they voluntarily leave the country during this period.
