The Pakistani government has issued orders to refrain from arresting Afghans who are waiting to be relocated to the United States, as part of its efforts to combat illegal migration.
More than 180,000 individuals have returned to Afghanistan in response to Pakistan’s directive to 1.7 million Afghans, deemed to be living illegally in Pakistan, to either leave the country or face deportation, according to border officials.
Human Rights Watch has previously expressed concerns that Afghans awaiting resettlement in the United States, the United Kingdom, Germany, and Canada, following their escape from the Taliban government, are at risk of deportation once their Pakistani visas expire.
Several Western nations are still in the process of resettling Afghan refugees, two years after the Taliban took control, leaving many families in a state of uncertainty as they wait in Pakistan.
A letter from the Interior Ministry, dated November 2 and seen by AFP, stated, “As per the Embassy of America, 1,150 Afghan nationals are being sponsored for relocation and resettlement to the United States. It is requested that it may be ensured that the Afghan nationals who are mentioned in the subject list are not arrested until further notice.”
This development follows the United States’ call on Pakistan to allow Afghans seeking asylum to enter the country. State Department spokesman Matthew Miller said, “We strongly encourage Afghanistan’s neighbors, including Pakistan, to allow entry for Afghans seeking international protection and to coordinate with international humanitarian organizations to provide humanitarian assistance.”
Over the years, millions of Afghans have sought refuge in Pakistan, fleeing various violent conflicts, including an estimated 600,000 who arrived after the Taliban took power in August 2021 and imposed its strict interpretation of Islamic law.
Pakistan has justified the deportations as necessary to safeguard its welfare and security, citing a surge in attacks that the government attributes to militants operating from Afghanistan, an allegation that Kabul denies.
