Pakistan plans to expel all Afghan refugees amidst growing tensions

In recent months, tensions have escalated regarding the status of Afghan refugees in Pakistan. The Afghan embassy in Islamabad issued a statement warning that the Pakistani government aims to remove all Afghan refugees from its territory, with an emphasis on those residing in Islamabad and Rawalpindi. This situation has arisen amidst a broader crackdown on undocumented foreigners, with reports indicating that arrests and demands for relocation have intensified. Afghan nationals, many of whom fled the Taliban's rule, are particularly vulnerable as Pakistan's Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has approved a deadline for deportation. The Afghan embassy has criticized the unilateral nature of this decision, citing concerns for those awaiting resettlement. Official communication from Pakistan's government suggests an urgent need for Afghan authorities to create conditions that would allow returning refugees to reintegrate into society. Despite the serious implications for the refugee population, there has been no formal discourse regarding these changes on an international platform, which could signal a worrying trend in Pakistan’s treatment of Afghan nationals. The increasing pressure to repatriate these individuals comes amid over 800,000 Afghans reportedly returning to Afghanistan since 2023, many facing arrest or deportation due to lacking proper documentation. The Afghan embassy has expressed its discontent over the short timeframe for resettlement and calls for a reconsideration of Afghan refugees' status in Pakistan, insisting on more humane and sensible policies in response to the ongoing crisis.