Afghanistan Peace Campaign
Pakistan is reviewing the extension of the Afghan migrant deportation deadline, providing more time for migrants to manage personal affairs before return.
Pakistani officials have announced that the government is considering extending the deadline for the forced return of 1.4 million Afghan migrants who are legally residing in Pakistan. This decision comes as the June 30 deadline approaches, and the extension is aimed at providing more time for individuals to manage personal affairs, such as selling property and ending business activities before their orderly return to Afghanistan.
The proposal was prepared last week and presented to the cabinet for approval. A final decision on the matter is expected to be made during the upcoming cabinet meeting, which is scheduled for Tuesday. This extension is seen as a way to ensure a more organized and smoother return process for the migrants.
According to reports, approximately 1.4 million Afghan migrants in Pakistan hold legal registration cards, while 800,000 others have Afghan citizenship cards. An additional one million are considered illegal migrants, and their forced repatriation has drawn widespread criticism.
The mass return of Afghan migrants has sparked intense criticism from international organizations. The United Nations and human rights groups have expressed concerns about the treatment of migrants, particularly the arbitrary arrests and forced expulsions. The International Organization for Migration (IOM) reported that more than 256,000 people returned to Afghanistan from Iran in July alone, adding pressure to Afghanistan’s already fragile systems.
The IOM has raised alarms that Afghanistan lacks the capacity to handle such a large number of returnees, with local systems facing imminent collapse. The UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR) has also warned that the extensive returns could destabilize Afghanistan further, as the country’s infrastructure is already under significant strain.
The growing number of returnees, coupled with warnings from international organizations, highlights the need for urgent international support. Afghanistan’s fragile infrastructure may struggle to accommodate these migrants without substantial aid, raising serious humanitarian concerns.
The situation requires coordinated efforts between Pakistan and Afghanistan, alongside international intervention, to ensure the safe return of migrants. Without effective diplomatic solutions and aid, both countries face increasing challenges, with potential long-term repercussions for regional stability.