The Pakistani government is set to deport all illegal Afghan refugees by January 2024, as announced by Balochistan Information Minister Jan Achakzai during a press conference in Quetta. Highlighting concerns about militants using Afghan territory as a base for attacks on Pakistan, Achakzai emphasized the importance of cooperation in countering this threat and urged the Taliban administration in Kabul to respond positively by handing over wanted terrorists.
This move follows Pakistan’s directive issued earlier in October, instructing individuals without legal status to leave the country voluntarily by November 1 or face potential enforcement actions. Consequently, nearly 400,000 Afghan refugees have already returned to Afghanistan from Pakistan in recent months.
However, the Taliban administration has rejected Pakistan’s allegations regarding the use of Afghan soil for planning attacks, stressing that Afghanistan shouldn’t be blamed for security issues. Despite this, the mass return of refugees from Pakistan is expected to compound Afghanistan’s existing humanitarian crisis, according to the United Nations High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR).
The UN Refugee Agency has expressed concerns about the lack of opportunities and shelter for those being deported, forecasting a challenging situation exacerbated by the impending harsh winter season. This influx of returnees is likely to strain limited resources and humanitarian aid efforts within Afghanistan.
This move by Pakistan signals a significant development in the ongoing regional dynamics and could have far-reaching implications for the Afghan population already grappling with multiple challenges.
Sources By Agencies
