The report says that 1.7 million Afghans are living in the country illegally without any proof and registration
Khayam Abbasi
ISLAMABAD: The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) has said that Pakistan has been hosting Afghan refugees for the last over 40 years without receiving any funds in return.
On the other hand, the European Union Agency of Asylum and the
International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) have termed the presence
of millions of illegal immigrants on Pakistani soil a threat to the
country.
The report says that 1.7 million Afghans are living in the country
illegally without any proof and registration. “Pakistan is not the only
country which has decided to evict illegal Afghan nationals,” it says,
adding, “Iran, too, in 2021 had ordered over one million Afghans to
leave the country.”
Since the Taliban’s takeover of Afghanistan in August 2021, over
1,600,000 Afghans have sought refuge in the neighbouring nations of
Pakistan, Iran, and Tajikistan, with over 70 per cent being women and
children.
The latest figures from the UNHCR estimate that over 3,700,000 Afghans
currently reside in Pakistan, with only 1,330,000 registered as
refugees.
Pakistan is not a signatory to the UN Refugee Convention and lacks a
national asylum system. The UN’s contractee for refugee registration,
the Society for Human Rights and Prisoners’ Aid (SHARP) has been
criticised for its protracted administrative processes, leaving many in
Pakistan without a way to attain protection or the required
documentation. The visas of many refugees who initially held regular
entry permits have now expired.
In response to the new order, the Federation of Afghanistan Journalists
in Exile (FAJE), a newly formed organisation advocating for journalists
in Afghanistan and the diaspora, called on the United Nations, Pakistani
authorities, and international organisations to increase support
measures for Afghan journalists in exile, cease the arrests and abuse in
custody by law enforcement, and raised concerns over the wellbeing of
journalists and trade unionists deported to Afghanistan.
Afghan nationals living in Pakistan have been facing the ire of the
authorities after the apex committee a few weeks ago asked them to leave
the country by October 31 or else face the music.
The decision was taken in view of their participation in incidents of
violence of May 9 as well as involvement in incidents of terrorism.
Meanwhile, the process of repatriation of Afghan nationals is underway
and about fifteen hundred and thirty (1530) more Afghans have been
repatriated to Afghanistan via Torkham border.
According to details, one hundred fifty two Afghan families were sent
back in forty nine vehicles. These include three hundred ninety two men,
two hundred fifty seven women and eight hundred eighty one children.
Over one point seven million Afghans are residing in Pakistan illegally.
According to the European Union Agency of Asylum and IFJ, foreign
nationals residing illegally in Pakistan are involved in the terror
activities and financial crimes.
Pakistan is not only a country in the world which decided to repatriate
the Afghan nationals for safeguarding its own interests, but Iran also
expelled over one million Afghans in 2021.
It is pertinent to mention that foreign nationals residing illegally in
Pakistan have sixteen days for voluntary repatriation to their native
countries.
No action will be taken against illegal foreign nationals, including
Afghans till the 1st of next month, in case they voluntarily leave the
country during this period. DNA
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