In a troubling development, a prominent rights group has reported that Pakistan has intensified its pressure on Afghan refugees to return to Afghanistan, a country fraught with dangers under Taliban rule. Pakistani officials have been urged to halt this coercive approach and allow Afghans the chance to seek protection, as stated by Elaine Pearson of Human Rights Watch. She also called for the Taliban to cease their abusive policies against vulnerable groups, especially women and girls.
Pakistan has announced a deadline of March 31 for the deportation of foreigners residing illegally, predominantly targeting Afghans. The Afghan Embassy in Islamabad noted a rise in the arrests of Afghan citizens amid fears of forced expulsion, an allegation Pakistan denies, claiming it merely facilitates the refugees’ return.
Currently, over 500,000 Afghans lack legal status in Pakistan, many looking to relocate to the United States. Additionally, around 1.45 million Afghans are registered as refugees with the U.N. refugee agency, most of whom fled during the Soviet occupation. Pakistan had previously extended protections for these registered refugees until June, preventing immediate arrest or deportation. However, a recent U.S. pause on refugee programmes has left around 20,000 Afghans in limbo, awaiting permanent resettlement.
Human Rights Watch highlights the deteriorating human rights situation in Afghanistan since the Taliban takeover, with women and girls facing severe restrictions on their rights, including education. Those returning to Afghanistan encounter hazards such as soaring unemployment and a failing healthcare system. Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has backed the deportation deadline, stressing the urgency for swift processing of Afghans awaiting relocation.
Moreover, Pakistan’s Interior Ministry is enforcing regulations that require Afghans without formal residence documents to vacate Islamabad and Rawalpindi or face deportation. A significant number of Afghans, particularly women and children, have already returned or been forcibly expelled since the beginning of 2023. Reports indicate that many are being mistreated by the police, who allegedly demand bribes for their continued stay in the country.
Pakistan is ramping up pressure on Afghan refugees to return home, risking their safety and well-being under Taliban rule. A deadline for deportation has been set, and many Afghans live in fear of forced expulsion. Human rights conditions in Afghanistan remain poor, especially for women and girls, adding urgency to calls for protective measures and humanitarian support from the international community.
The situation for Afghan refugees in Pakistan is increasingly dire, as pressures mount for their return to Afghanistan, where they face persecution and precarious living conditions. Calls for humane treatment and urgent action from the Pakistani authorities and international community underscore the challenging plight of these vulnerable individuals. Ensuring protective measures and expediting resettlement are critical to prevent further hardship for Afghan refugees.
Original Source: apnews.com
