Afghanistan Peace CampaignThis development comes despite a report by the Associated Press yesterday, which mentioned a ten-day suspension of the deportation process.
Pakistani media have reported the start of the deportation process of Afghan refugees from Pakistan.
This development comes despite a report by the Associated Press yesterday, which mentioned a ten-day suspension of the deportation process.
According to a report by The Express Tribune, “Pakistan currently hosts 2.1 million documented Afghan refugees, with many others living in the country without legal documentation. Approximately 1.3 million of these refugees have received Proof of Registration cards, with more than half of them residing in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P).”
At the same time, several Afghan refugees who hold “ACC” (Afghan Citizen Card) documents have stated they are not yet ready to return to Afghanistan.
Mir Miyakhel, an Afghan refugee in Pakistan, said: “I hope the government of Pakistan reconsiders its decision and halts forced repatriation so that Afghans can secure adequate shelter in their homeland.”
Malak Awwal Shinwari, another Afghan refugee in Pakistan, said: “Afghan refugees didn’t feel the joy of Eid because they cannot organize their affairs in a single month or within twenty days. Afghan asylum seekers here are deeply engaged in their businesses and have spent many years in this country.”
Meanwhile, a number of refugee rights activists have labeled the forced deportations as violations of international laws and conventions.
Mohammad Khan Mohammadzai, a refugee rights activist, stated: “The current pressure on refugees indicates that both governments must act in accordance with the principles of neighborhood and Islamic values. The current measures against refugees contradict international laws.”
Pakistani media have also reported that the police chief of Rawalpindi has ordered the arrest and deportation of undocumented Afghan refugees.