92000 Illegal Afghan refugees
ISLAMABAD: As the deadline for Afghan refugees living in Pakistan without legal documents approaches, more than 92000 illegal Afghan refugees depart from the country. Reports indicate that thousands of illegal Afghan refugees have returned to Afghanistan ahead of the deadline to launch action against them.
Pakistan government has set October 31, 2023, the deadline for illegal refugees to leave the country.
Nevertheless, refugees have expressed grievances regarding the process, citing insufficient time for proper packing and departure.
A significant portion of these refugees has resided in Pakistan for many years, making their return to Afghanistan an uncertain journey.
Initially, Pakistan had instructed refugees to sell their properties and return across the border by November 1, warning of deportation and property confiscation for non-compliance.
Subsequently, it was revealed that the government had imposed a limit of AFN50,000 on the amount refugees could carry with them.
Interior Minister Sarfaraz Bugti recently announced that refugees failing to leave by the deadline would be accommodated in “holding centers” furnished with food and medical supplies.
Pakistan has played host to millions of refugees since the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan, a phenomenon that has persisted for over three decades and gained renewed attention following the fall of Kabul.
From November 1, 2023, the government agencies would launch a nationwide crackdown against illegal foreigners living in Pakistan, including Afghan citizens.
Moreover, the government has decided to take legal action against those who rented out their accommodation/residence to foreigners living in Pakistan without legal documents.
