Deportation of undocumented Afghans from Pakistan: Difference between revisions
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==Background== |
==Background== |
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{{main|Afghans in Pakistan}} |
{{main|Afghans in Pakistan}} |
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The Caretaker [[Government of Sindh|Cabinet of Sindh]] has decided to allocate 4.5 billion rupees for the repatriation of illegal immigrants. This amount was required for the repatriation of illegal aliens from Karachi, Sukkur, Hyderabad, Shaheed Benazirabad, Larkana and Mirpurkhas divisions. The cabinet approved funds beyond the [[2023–24 Sindh budget|budget]] allocation.<ref>https://tribune.com.pk/story/2444080/cabinet-allocates-rs45b-for-repatriation-of-illegal-aliens</ref><ref>https://www.nation.com.pk/01-Nov-2023/caretaker-cabinet-approves-funds-for-repatriation-of-illegal-foreigners</ref> |
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Afghan migration to Pakistan dates back to the [[Soviet invasion of Afghanistan]] in 1979, which led to over three million Afghans seeking refuge in Pakistan.<ref>{{cite book | chapter-url=https://link.springer.com/chapter/10.1007/978-3-030-06061-9_12 | doi=10.1007/978-3-030-06061-9_12 | chapter=Afghan Migration and Pakistan's Policy Response: Dynamics of Continuity and Change | title=Public Policy Research in the Global South | date=2019 | last1=Ghosh | first1=Anwesha | pages=215–230 | isbn=978-3-030-06060-2 | s2cid=159051369 | access-date=2023-10-07 | archive-date=2023-10-09 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231009172350/https://link.springer.com/chapter/10.1007/978-3-030-06061-9_12 | url-status=live }}</ref> While many have returned home, a significant number of Afghan nationals, both documented and undocumented, remain in [[Pakistan]]. Recently, there has been a surge in violence, particularly in provinces bordering Afghanistan. The Pakistani government attributes this to the Afghan Taliban providing safe harbor to the [[Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan]] (TTP), which has launched numerous attacks. In response to these security concerns, the Pakistani government has announced that all undocumented migrants and refugees, including hundreds of thousands of Afghans, must leave Pakistan.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2023/10/6/why-is-pakistan-deporting-undocumented-afghans | title=Why is Pakistan planning to deport undocumented Afghans? | access-date=2023-10-07 | archive-date=2023-10-08 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231008055159/https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2023/10/6/why-is-pakistan-deporting-undocumented-afghans | url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |date=2023-10-05 |title=Pakistan abruptly turns against Afghan refugees, calls for deportations |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2023/10/05/afghan-refugees-migrants-pakistan-karachi/ |access-date=2023-10-27 |newspaper=Washington Post |language=en |archive-date=2023-11-03 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231103172317/https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2023/10/05/afghan-refugees-migrants-pakistan-karachi/ |url-status=live }}</ref> |
Afghan migration to Pakistan dates back to the [[Soviet invasion of Afghanistan]] in 1979, which led to over three million Afghans seeking refuge in Pakistan.<ref>{{cite book | chapter-url=https://link.springer.com/chapter/10.1007/978-3-030-06061-9_12 | doi=10.1007/978-3-030-06061-9_12 | chapter=Afghan Migration and Pakistan's Policy Response: Dynamics of Continuity and Change | title=Public Policy Research in the Global South | date=2019 | last1=Ghosh | first1=Anwesha | pages=215–230 | isbn=978-3-030-06060-2 | s2cid=159051369 | access-date=2023-10-07 | archive-date=2023-10-09 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231009172350/https://link.springer.com/chapter/10.1007/978-3-030-06061-9_12 | url-status=live }}</ref> While many have returned home, a significant number of Afghan nationals, both documented and undocumented, remain in [[Pakistan]]. Recently, there has been a surge in violence, particularly in provinces bordering Afghanistan. The Pakistani government attributes this to the Afghan Taliban providing safe harbor to the [[Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan]] (TTP), which has launched numerous attacks. In response to these security concerns, the Pakistani government has announced that all undocumented migrants and refugees, including hundreds of thousands of Afghans, must leave Pakistan.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2023/10/6/why-is-pakistan-deporting-undocumented-afghans | title=Why is Pakistan planning to deport undocumented Afghans? | access-date=2023-10-07 | archive-date=2023-10-08 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231008055159/https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2023/10/6/why-is-pakistan-deporting-undocumented-afghans | url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |date=2023-10-05 |title=Pakistan abruptly turns against Afghan refugees, calls for deportations |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2023/10/05/afghan-refugees-migrants-pakistan-karachi/ |access-date=2023-10-27 |newspaper=Washington Post |language=en |archive-date=2023-11-03 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231103172317/https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2023/10/05/afghan-refugees-migrants-pakistan-karachi/ |url-status=live }}</ref> |
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Revision as of 16:38, 4 November 2023
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The Illegal Foreigners Repatriation Plan (IFRP) was announced by the government of Pakistan. The plan aims to repatriate foreign nationals who either do not have a valid Pakistani visa or have overstayed their visa for more than one year. The plan was to start from 1 November 2023.[1] The government has finalized a comprehensive plan for the repatriation of these illegal aliens, including Afghan nationals.[2]
The plan
The plan includes the identification and deportation of illegal, unregistered and overstaying aliens.[3] The repatriation process is planned to be carried out in successive phases.[4] The Ministry of Interior has established 49 holding area points all over the country to help these people cross the border in a dignified manner after thorough screening. These holding centers have been set up in all 36 districts of Punjab, three in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa: Peshawar, Haripur and Khyber districts, two in Sind: Kemari and Malir districts and three in Balochistan: Quetta, Chagai and Pishin districts. One holding center has also been established in the federal capital Islamabad and Gilgit.[5]
Background
The Caretaker Cabinet of Sindh has decided to allocate 4.5 billion rupees for the repatriation of illegal immigrants. This amount was required for the repatriation of illegal aliens from Karachi, Sukkur, Hyderabad, Shaheed Benazirabad, Larkana and Mirpurkhas divisions. The cabinet approved funds beyond the budget allocation.[6][7]
Afghan migration to Pakistan dates back to the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan in 1979, which led to over three million Afghans seeking refuge in Pakistan.[8] While many have returned home, a significant number of Afghan nationals, both documented and undocumented, remain in Pakistan. Recently, there has been a surge in violence, particularly in provinces bordering Afghanistan. The Pakistani government attributes this to the Afghan Taliban providing safe harbor to the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), which has launched numerous attacks. In response to these security concerns, the Pakistani government has announced that all undocumented migrants and refugees, including hundreds of thousands of Afghans, must leave Pakistan.[9][10]
In 2023, Pakistan ordered the expulsion of approximately two million Afghans from the country in a "gradual" and "organized" manner. Having made the announcement in September, the Pakistani government set a deadline of two months, telling "undocumented" Afghan residents to voluntarily relocate to Afghanistan by 1 November or be deported.[11] Many of Pakistan's Afghan residents were born and raised in Pakistan and have never been to Afghanistan,[12][13] with the first Afghan refugees having arrived in the country shortly after the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan;[14] the most recent influx of refugees occurred after the Taliban takeover of Afghanistan in 2021.[15] Almost 200,000 Afghans had fled the country by the time the deadline expired, after which Pakistani authorities began rounding up Afghans for deportation.[16] There have been numerous reports of both undocumented Afghans and documented Afghans with Pakistani citizenship being targeted by police amidst the campaign:[17] Afghans who failed to leave the country were detained in nationwide sweeps and had their houses demolished,[18] and around US$4 billion in Afghan-owned properties and other assets have reportedly been seized by Pakistan's government.[19] The ongoing mass deportation has been condemned by the United Nations and Human Rights Watch, with the latter calling on Pakistan to halt the deportations while also calling on Western countries to immediately expediate the immigration process for those Afghans in Pakistan who are deemed to be "particularly at risk" if they are sent to Afghanistan.[20][21][22] Amnesty International urged the reversal of the decision and condemned Pakistan's authorities for "arbitrarily arresting and harassing" Afghans living in the country.[23][24][25] The expulsions have further inflamed bilateral tensions with the Taliban government, which has criticized Pakistan's actions and urged the Pakistani government to "give more time" to Afghans leaving the country.[26][27]
Deportation
The government of Pakistan has established a time limit for all individuals without proper documentation, including a large number of Afghans, to depart from Pakistan. Sarfraz Bugti, the interim Interior Minister, disclosed that a significant portion of suicide bombings in Pakistan this year were orchestrated by Afghan citizens.[28] He further noted that Afghanistan hosts around 4.4 million Afghans, with 1.4 million refugees, 1.3 million immigrants and with over 1.7 million residing in Pakistan without proper authorization who were being expelled.[29]
Seizure of Afghans' properties
The Islamabad police have finished the process of marking the locations of Afghan individuals residing in various areas of the federal capital. Additionally, a survey regarding the properties owned by Afghan nationals is currently in progress.[30]
Reactions
Afghan government
The Taliban-led government has expressed strong disapproval of Pakistan's move to deport Afghans residing in the country without permission, urging the Pakistani government to reconsider its decision.[31]
International organizations
The United Nations and international human rights organizations have raised alarms about Pakistan's intentions to remove Afghan individuals who entered the country illegally. They emphasize that a significant number, including those who fled Afghanistan after the Taliban's takeover in August 2021, are at risk of being deported.[11][32][33]
See also
References
- ^ https://pakistan.embassy.gov.au/files/islm/231028_IllegalForeignersRepatriationPlan.pdf
- ^ https://www.radio.gov.pk/31-10-2023/comprehensive-plan-finalized-for-repatriation-of-illegal-foreign-nationals
- ^ https://pakistan.iom.int/sites/g/files/tmzbdl1121/files/documents/2023-10/unhcr-iom-flash-update-1-pakistan_19-oct-2023.pdf
- ^ https://www.pakistantoday.com.pk/2023/09/26/caretaker-federal-govt-decides-repatriation-of-11-lac-foreigners-afghans-residing-illegally/
- ^ https://www.radio.gov.pk/31-10-2023/comprehensive-plan-finalized-for-repatriation-of-illegal-foreign-nationals
- ^ https://tribune.com.pk/story/2444080/cabinet-allocates-rs45b-for-repatriation-of-illegal-aliens
- ^ https://www.nation.com.pk/01-Nov-2023/caretaker-cabinet-approves-funds-for-repatriation-of-illegal-foreigners
- ^ Ghosh, Anwesha (2019). "Afghan Migration and Pakistan's Policy Response: Dynamics of Continuity and Change". Public Policy Research in the Global South. pp. 215–230. doi:10.1007/978-3-030-06061-9_12. ISBN 978-3-030-06060-2. S2CID 159051369. Archived from the original on 2023-10-09. Retrieved 2023-10-07.
- ^ "Why is Pakistan planning to deport undocumented Afghans?". Archived from the original on 2023-10-08. Retrieved 2023-10-07.
- ^ "Pakistan abruptly turns against Afghan refugees, calls for deportations". Washington Post. 2023-10-05. Archived from the original on 2023-11-03. Retrieved 2023-10-27.
- ^ a b "Pakistan's Plan to Expel Illegal Afghan Migrants Alarms UN". VOA. September 28, 2023. Archived from the original on October 7, 2023. Retrieved October 7, 2023.
- ^ Hussain, Abid. "'Where do I go back to?': Expelled Afghans battle chaos at Pakistan border". Al Jazeera. Retrieved 2023-11-04.
- ^ Yeung, Sophia Saifi, Jessie (2023-11-03). "'There is no school for girls': Afghans who fled to Pakistan sent back to a homeland that is foreign to many". CNN. Retrieved 2023-11-04.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) - ^ Kugelman, Michael (2023-11-01). "Why Is Pakistan Expelling 1.7 Million Afghans?". Foreign Policy. Retrieved 2023-11-04.
- ^ Khan, Munir Ahmed And Riaz (2023-11-01). "Dozens of Afghans who were illegally in Pakistan are detained and deported in nationwide sweeps". CP24. Retrieved 2023-11-04.
- ^ "More than 165,000 Afghans flee Pakistan after deportation order". France 24. 2023-11-02. Retrieved 2023-11-04.
- ^ Baloch, Shah Meer (2023-11-01). "Pakistan starts mass deportation of undocumented Afghans". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 2023-11-04.
- ^ Afghans Refugee Homes Demolished In Islamabad Ahead Of Deadline To Leave Pakistan, 2023-11-01, retrieved 2023-11-04
- ^ "Assets Worth $4Bn of Afghans Has Been Confiscated, Says Pak-Afg Joint Chamber of Commerce". Afghanistan International. 2023-11-04. Retrieved 2023-11-04.
- ^ "Pakistan: Afghans Detained, Face Deportation | Human Rights Watch". 2023-10-31. Retrieved 2023-11-04.
- ^ "Pakistan: Drop Threat to Deport Afghans | Human Rights Watch". 2023-10-12. Retrieved 2023-11-04.
- ^ "Afghans in Pakistan seeking resettlement in Canada fear being deported back to Afghanistan". The Globe and Mail. 2023-11-03. Retrieved 2023-11-04.
- ^ "Pakistan: Decision on forced returns of Afghan refugees must be reversed immediately". Amnesty International. 2023-10-31. Retrieved 2023-11-04.
- ^ "Pakistan: Government must not deport Afghan Refugees". Amnesty International. 2023-10-04. Retrieved 2023-11-04.
- ^ RFE/RL. "Amnesty International Flags Pakistan Over Treatment Of Afghan Refugees". RadioFreeEurope/RadioLiberty. Retrieved 2023-11-04.
- ^ "Taliban urges Pakistan to grant more time for undocumented Afghans to leave". Al Jazeera. Retrieved 2023-11-04.
- ^ "Kabul rejects deportation policy amid Pakistan resolve". www.thenews.com.pk. Archived from the original on 2023-10-07. Retrieved 2023-10-07.
- ^ Hussain, Abid. "Why is Pakistan planning to deport undocumented Afghans?". Al Jazeera. Archived from the original on 2023-10-08. Retrieved 2023-10-07.
- ^ "Pakistan says it will deport 1.7m Afghans and all other 'illegal immigrants'". The Guardian. October 6, 2023. Archived from the original on October 7, 2023. Retrieved October 7, 2023.
- ^ Desk, Web (October 7, 2023). "Islamabad police complete geo-tagging of Afghan nationals". ARY NEWS. Archived from the original on October 8, 2023. Retrieved October 7, 2023.
{{cite web}}:|last=has generic name (help) - ^ "Pakistan's plan to evict thousands of Afghans 'unacceptable', says Taliban". Al Jazeera. Archived from the original on 2023-10-08. Retrieved 2023-10-07.
- ^ "Taliban, Rights Groups Decry Pakistan's Decision to Evict Afghan Immigrants". VOA. October 4, 2023. Archived from the original on October 9, 2023. Retrieved October 7, 2023.
- ^ "Pakistan to Begin Deportation of 1.7 Million Undocumented Afghans". VOA. October 3, 2023. Archived from the original on October 6, 2023. Retrieved October 7, 2023.
