Pakistan has begun deporting documented Afghan refugees prior to his time limit for them to leave, according to the United Nations, in a step that could see more than 1 million Afghans expelled from the country.
The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees said it had received reports of arrests and deportations of legally registered Afghans across the country before Pakistan’s deadline on September 1 to leave.
UNHCR said it was a breach of Pakistan’s international obligations to send the Afghans back in this way. “The UNHCR calls on the government to stop that forced return and apply a human approach to secure voluntary, gradual and dignified returns of Afghans,” a statement states.
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The voluntary return of the documented refugees must commence immediately, said the order of a Pakistan Ministry of the Interior seen by Reuters. It said the formal deportation process will start after the deadline. But Qaisar Khan Afridi, a spokesman for UNHCR, told Reuters on Wednesday that hundreds of legally registered Afghan refugees had already been detained and deported to Afghanistan from August 1 to August 4.
The Ministry of the Interior did not respond to a Reuters request for a comment.
More than 1.3 million Afghans have documentation known as proof of registration cards, while 750,000 more have another form of registration known as an Afghan citizen card.
Many Afghans have been living in Pakistan since the 1980s to escape war cycles in Afghanistan. “Such a massive and rushed return could jeopardize the life and freedom of Afghan refugees, while at the same time risking instability not only in Afghanistan, but throughout the region,” UNHRC said.
Pakistani authorities have said that Islamabad wants all Afghan citizens to leave except those who have valid visas. Repatriation driven by Pakistan is part of a campaign called the illegal foreigners repatriation plan launched by the end of 2023.
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Pakistan has previously accused militant attacks and crimes against Afghan citizens forming the largest migrant group in the country. Afghanistan has rejected the allegations and has called the repatriations as forced deportation.
In addition to reputation from Pakistan, Afghanistan also faces a fresh wave of mass portions from Iran. Auxiliary groups worry that the influx risks destabilizing the country further.
