Importance Score: 75 / 100 🔴
Pakistan Escalates Deportation of Afghan Refugees Amidst Growing Tensions
Pakistan has deported over 19,500 Afghan refugees this month alone, part of a larger group of more than 80,000 who have departed ahead of an impending 30 April deadline, according to United Nations data. This surge in deportations is part of Pakistan’s intensified campaign to expel undocumented Afghans and those with temporary residency permits, citing overstretched resources and national security concerns as primary motivations.
Mass Deportations Strain Border Resources
Taliban authorities report that approximately 700 to 800 families are being forcibly returned daily across the Torkham border crossing. Concerns are mounting that up to two million individuals may face deportation in the coming months, exacerbating an already complex humanitarian situation.
Diplomatic Discussions in Kabul
Pakistani Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar traveled to Kabul on Saturday for discussions with Taliban officials in an effort to address the escalating crisis. During these talks, his counterpart Amir Khan Muttaqi conveyed “profound apprehension” regarding the ongoing deportations and their impact.
Experiences of Expelled Afghans
Afghan returnees at the border recounted stories of being born in Pakistan after their families sought refuge from conflict decades ago. The UN Refugee Agency estimates that over 3.5 million Afghans reside in Pakistan, including roughly 700,000 who arrived following the Taliban takeover in 2021. The UN further suggests that approximately half of this population lacks official documentation.
Pakistan’s Stance on Refugee Policy
While Pakistan has historically hosted Afghan refugees fleeing war, the government now asserts that the substantial number of refugees present a threat to national security and place undue strain on essential public services.
vCard.red is a free platform for creating a mobile-friendly digital business cards. You can easily create a vCard and generate a QR code for it, allowing others to scan and save your contact details instantly.
The platform allows you to display contact information, social media links, services, and products all in one shareable link. Optional features include appointment scheduling, WhatsApp-based storefronts, media galleries, and custom design options.
Border Security Concerns
Recent weeks have witnessed an increase in skirmishes along the Afghanistan-Pakistan border involving security forces from both nations. Pakistan attributes these incidents to militants allegedly based in Afghanistan, accusations that the Taliban administration denies.
Following the meeting in Kabul, Pakistan’s foreign ministry stated that both parties had “addressed all matters of shared interest.” Pakistan had previously extended the deadline for undocumented Afghans to depart until 30 April.
Personal Accounts from the Torkham Border
At the Torkham border crossing, expelled Afghans shared poignant testimonies. Sayed Rahman, a second-generation refugee who spent his entire life in Pakistan, expressed his distress: “I lived my whole life in Pakistan. I got married there. What am I supposed to do now?”
Saleh, a father of three daughters, voiced concerns about the future under Taliban governance, particularly regarding education for girls. “I want my children to study. I don’t want their years in school to go to waste,” he stated, emphasizing, “Everyone has the right to an education.”
Another individual described the profound sense of displacement: “Our children have never seen Afghanistan, and even I don’t know what it looks like anymore. It might take us a year or more to settle in and find work. We feel helpless.”
Conditions at the Border Crossing
At the border, separate entry points are maintained for men and women, overseen by armed Pakistani and Afghan guards. Elderly returnees were among those crossing, with some requiring assistance by stretcher or bed.
Military vehicles are transporting families from the border to temporary accommodation facilities. Families originating from distant Afghan provinces are staying in these shelters for several days while awaiting onward transportation to their regions of origin.
Makeshift shelters offer scant respite from the 30C heat, with dust causing discomfort. Resources are stretched thin, leading to disputes over access to shelter.
According to Hedayatullah Yad Shinwari, a member of the camp’s Taliban-appointed finance committee, returnees are receiving between 4,000 and 10,000 Afghanis (£41 to £104) from Kabul authorities upon arrival.
Impact on Afghanistan’s Infrastructure
The mass deportation is placing immense strain on Afghanistan’s already fragile infrastructure, compounded by a struggling economy and a population nearing 45 million.
Bakht Jamal Gohar, the Taliban’s head of refugee affairs at the border crossing, acknowledged the challenges: “We have resolved most issues, but the arrival of people in such large numbers naturally brings difficulties. These people left decades ago and left all their belongings behind. Some of their homes were destroyed during 20 years of war.”
Concerns Over Restrictions on Belongings
Numerous families informed the BBC that Pakistani border officials imposed restrictions on the items they were allowed to bring, a claim corroborated by some human rights organizations.
In response to these allegations, Chaudhry, likely a Pakistani official, stated that Pakistan does “not have any policy that prevents Afghan refugees from taking their household items with them.”
One man, seeking refuge from the scorching sun, recounted his children’s pleas to remain in Pakistan, their birthplace. Despite holding temporary residency permits that expired in March, they were being deported. “Now we’ll never go back. Not after how we were treated,” he lamented.