Publish dateSaturday 1 February 2025 - 23:11
Story Code : 306423
Pakistan launches new wave of mass deportation of Afghan refugees
The Pakistani government, led by Shahbaz Sharif, has approved a new phase of mass deportation of Afghan refugees. According to the documents, in the first phase, undocumented migrants and ACC card holders will be deported from Islamabad and Rawalpindi. The decision, which has drawn international reactions, could affect the lives of thousands of Afghan refugees. The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) has expressed concern over the Pakistani government's decision.
Afghan Voice Agency (AVA): Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has approved a plan to phase out Afghan refugees, according to a document received by the media. The document shows that the Pakistani Interior Ministry has been obliged to expel Afghan citizens without official residence permits, including ACC card holders, from Islamabad and Rawalpindi as a first step. There are no exact figures on the number of migrants.
The ECC card, which is issued to some as legal immigrants in Pakistan, indicates their residence status. But with the latest decision, even holders of the card will be subject to deportation.
The document also states that in the second phase, the status of POR card holders will be reviewed. According to the document, the federal cabinet of Pakistan has granted residence permits to holders of the card until July 30, 2025. However, they will also be expelled from Islamabad and Rawalpindi.
According to official figures, there are about 1.45 million Afghan migrants in Pakistan with POR cards. The card is issued to Afghans who have participated in the refugee registration scheme in Pakistan and have a certain legal status. Holders of this card are recognized as registered refugees and in some cases enjoy certain services. But now, even the group faces new restrictions.
Meanwhile, Afghan refugees who have registered for resettlement in other countries have until March 31, 2025 to leave Islamabad and Rawalpindi. Shahbaz Sharif has ordered the Pakistani Foreign Ministry to hold talks with Western diplomatic missions in Islamabad to expedite the process of transferring the migrants. Otherwise, these people will also be returned to Afghanistan.
According to the decisions taken at the meeting, Pakistani authorities must ensure that refugees who are deported can no longer return to Pakistani territory. To ensure the proper implementation of the plan, Pakistani intelligence agencies are responsible for closely monitoring the deportation process and sending regular reports to the prime minister's office.
The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) has expressed concern over the Pakistani government's decision to deport Afghan refugees. The organization warned that failure to comply with the guidelines could lead to widespread detention and deportation of asylum seekers.
The commissioner described the decision as "worrying" and said it was in talks with Pakistani officials to find solutions to support Afghan refugees and migrants.
The Pakistani government deported more than 600,000 Afghan refugees in a similar move last year. Now, the implementation of this new wave of deportations has caused widespread concern among human rights groups and international organizations.
 
Earlier, the Pakistan High Commissioner for Refugees (CCAR) said there were 2.9 million Afghan citizens living in Pakistan, of whom 1.4 million were registered and the rest were not.
Meanwhile, according to numerous reports, Pakistani police continue to violently clash with Afghan migrants in various cities, especially in Islamabad, and detain them, especially women and children. Pakistan is using it as a lever of political pressure to intensify violence against Afghan refugees and migrants.
https://avapress.com/vdchi-nxx23nvkd.01t2.html
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