Deportation of undocumented Afghans from Pakistan

Last updated

In October 2023, the government of Pakistan announced a plan to deport foreign nationals who either did not have valid visas or had overstayed their visa for more than one year. The mass deportations primarily affected those Afghans who fled to Pakistan after Taliban's takeover of Afghanistan. There were an estimated 3.8 million Afghans in Pakistan at the time the deportation order was announced, according to the United Nations, while Pakistani authorities believed the number to be as high as 4.4 million. [1] [2] [3] Of these, only a few held the required documentation allowing them to legally stay in Pakistan. [1] Afghans accounted for 98% of the foreign nationals in Pakistan. [4] Deportations were to start from 1 November 2023. An estimated 746,800 Afghans were deported from Pakistan by 1 April 2024. [5]

Contents

The government cited increasing crime and violence, including suicide attacks, as the motivation for the mass deportations. However, outside observers noted there were likely also political reasons for the sudden deportations, for example that the Pakistan Army hoped to pressure the Taliban, who control the Afghan government, into a more cooperative foreign policy. [6] Some also argued that Pakistan is instituting collective punishment against Afghans and Afghan immigrants were being scapegoated for Pakistan's economic crisis. [7] [8] [9]

Background

Afghan migration to Pakistan dates back to the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan in 1979, which led to over three million Afghans seeking refuge in Pakistan. [10] Significant waves of Afghan refugees also came to Pakistan after the U.S. invasion of Afghanistan in 2001 and in 2021 when the Taliban returned to power following the US troop withdrawal from Afghanistan. [11] While some have returned home, around 4.4 million Afghan nationals, both documented and undocumented, remained in Pakistan in October 2023 according to government figures. Many were born and raised in Pakistan and have never been to Afghanistan. [12] [13] The government claimed around 1.7 million were without visas. [14]

The government stated the deportations were a response to an increase in terrorist attacks in Pakistan. Pakistani officials said there have been 24 suicide bombings since January, 14 of which were carried out by Afghan nationals. [15] Eight of the 11 militants who recently attacked two Pakistani military installations in southwestern Balochistan province were Afghans. [16] The Pakistani government attributes this surge in violence to the Afghan Taliban providing safe harbor to the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), which organised several of these attacks.

On 3 October 2023, in a high committee meeting of the National Action Plan (NAP) chaired by Caretaker Prime Minister Anwarul Haq Kakar, all foreign nationals residing illegally in the country have to voluntarily leave the country or face deportation by 31 October. [17] [18] During this time, 100,000–165,000 Afghans voluntarily left Pakistan. [19] [20] Sarfraz Bugti, the interim Interior Minister, disclosed that a significant portion of suicide bombings in Pakistan this year were orchestrated by Afghan citizens. [21]

Logistics

On 1 November, the Ministry of Interior issued instructions to all provinces to deport illegal aliens under the Foreigners Act, 1946. [22] The government deployed law enforcement officials across the country. [23] It also launched a phone hotline for people to inform on undocumented immigrants. [24]

The Ministry of Interior has established 49 holding areas throughout the country to detain undocumented immigrants. These holding centers have been set up in all 36 districts of Punjab, three in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa: Peshawar, Haripur and Khyber districts, two in Sindh: Kemari and Malir districts and three in Balochistan: Quetta, Chagai and Pishin districts. One holding center has also been established in the federal capital Islamabad and Gilgit. [25]

Caretaker Interior Minister Sarfaraz Bugti directed authorities and agencies to treat undocumented migrants with respect while they are detained, [26] but also threatened anyone involved in aiding, harboring, or renting a home to an undocumented immigrant with prosecution. He urged Pakistani citizens to inform the government about illegal immigrants and their residences. [27] [28]

Deportation

There have been numerous reports of both undocumented Afghans and Afghans who have refugee status being targeted by police amidst the campaign: [29] [30] and around US$4 billion in Afghan-owned properties and other assets have reportedly been seized by Pakistan's government. [31]

In an effort to regulate illegal immigration, Pakistan is implementing the "One Document Regime" (ODR). This policy mandates all foreign nationals, including Afghans, to possess a valid visa for travel to the country. The ODR, already operational at the Torkham border crossing, is a significant step in controlling the movement of people and goods across the border. [32] [33]

As of 5 November 2023, according to Pakistani border officials, 174,358 Afghan nationals in total left for Afghanistan since 17 September 2023. [34]

Balochistan

To accelerate the deportation process, additional crossing points have been established in Qila Saifullah, Qameruddin Karez, and Baracha Noor Wahab in the Chagai district by the authorities in Balochistan. These steps are designed to aid Afghan and Iranian Baloch immigrants in adhering to the 31 October deadline. [35]

Islamabad

The Islamabad police has finished the process of marking the locations of Afghan individuals residing in various areas of the federal capital. Additionally, a survey regarding the properties owned by Afghan nationals is currently in progress. [36]

Afghans who failed to leave the country were detained in nationwide sweeps and had their illegal mud-brick houses on the outskirts of the capital Islamabad demolished. [37] [38]

Punjab

After the deadline expired, a deportation operation for illegal foreign nationals, including Afghans, was launched across Punjab. The plan, finalized by Punjab's Inspector General of Police, Dr. Usman Anwar, began its phased evacuation of illegal immigrants on 3 November. [39] The operation spans multiple divisions within Punjab, such as Rawalpindi, Gujranwala, Sargodha, Sheikhupura, Faisalabad, Lahore, Sahiwal, Bahawalpur, Multan, and Dera Ghazi Khan. [40] Small number of Pakistani citizens have also been wrongfully arrested and detained as Afghan citizens. [41]

Sindh

The Caretaker Cabinet of Sindh has decided to allocate 4.5 billion rupees for the repatriation of illegal immigrants. This amount was required for the repatriation of illegal aliens from Karachi, Sukkur, Hyderabad, Shaheed Benazirabad, Larkana and Mirpurkhas divisions. The cabinet approved funds beyond the budget allocation. [42] [43]

Criticism

In November 2023, Pakistan Imposed an $830 (£660) exit fee on Afghan refugees and illegal immigrants. [44] The "unprecedented" action targets refugees who are waiting to leave Pakistan for western nations as part of resettlement programs. The United Nations and Western diplomats have denounced as "shocking and frustrating" Pakistan's move to charge hundreds of dollars in exit fees to each Afghan refugee who fled the Taliban's persecution. [45]

The BBC was informed by the UNHCR that it is working to "resolve the issue". "We are urging the government to waive these obligations for refugees. "Pakistani laws, like the immigration laws in other countries including the United Kingdom, have fines and punishments for individuals who overstay their visas or are in violation of immigration laws," a spokesman for the nation's Ministry of Foreign Affairs. [46]

Reactions

Afghan government

The Taliban-led government has expressed strong disapproval of Pakistan's move to deport Afghans residing in the country without permission, urging the Pakistani government to reconsider its decision. [47]

International organizations

The ongoing mass deportation has been condemned by the United Nations and Human Rights Watch, with the latter calling on Pakistan to halt the deportations while also calling on Western countries to immediately expediate the immigration process for those Afghans in Pakistan who are deemed to be "particularly at risk" if they are sent to Afghanistan. [48] [49] [50]

Amnesty International urged the reversal of the decision and condemned Pakistan's authorities for "arbitrarily arresting and harassing" Afghans living in the country. [51] [52] [53] The expulsions have further inflamed bilateral tensions with the Taliban government, which has criticized Pakistan's actions and urged the Pakistani government to "give more time" to Afghans leaving the country. [54] [55]

The United Nations and international human rights organizations have raised alarms about Pakistan's intentions to remove Afghan individuals who entered the country illegally. They emphasize that a significant number, including those who fled Afghanistan after the Taliban's takeover in August 2021, are at risk of being deported. [56] [57] [58]

Pakistani government

Pakistan's caretaker government has stated that there will be no extension of the deadline for illegal immigrants to leave the country, [59] [60] and claimed that the deportation is in line with international law. [61]

Caretaker Prime Minister Anwarul Haq Kakar said that the government's repatriation policy is not exclusive to Afghan nationals, but applies to all illegal immigrants in Pakistan. He stated that despite not being a signatory to the Geneva Convention, Pakistan has hosted over 4 million Afghan refugees for the past 40 years. He said that while not all Afghans are involved in illegal activities, certain groups contribute to the problem. [62]

Foreign Office spokesperson Mumtaz Zahra Baloch stated that the operation is not aimed at any particular nationality and the repatriation process adheres to international norms and principles, and will not affect foreign nationals who are legally residing or registered in Pakistan. She said that the government "takes its commitments towards protection and safety needs of those in vulnerable situations with utmost seriousness", [63] [64] and that the repatriation of "illegals" will continue without revision. [65]

Interim Home Minister Sarfraz Bugti stated that the government's deportation drive is aimed at including all people living illegally in the country, not just Afghans. He said that the government's message regarding action against illegal residents was misunderstood. [66] The statement was made at a time when the government's deadline for illegal residents to leave the country was approaching. [67]

See also

Related Research Articles

The foreign relations of Afghanistan are in a transitional phase since the 2021 fall of Kabul to the Taliban and the collapse of the internationally recognized Islamic Republic of Afghanistan. No country has recognised the new Taliban-run government, the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan. Although some countries have engaged in informal diplomatic contact with the Islamic Emirate, formal relations remain limited to representatives of the Islamic Republic.

Since 1945, immigration to the United Kingdom, controlled by British immigration law and to an extent by British nationality law, has been significant, in particular from the former territories of the British Empire and the European Union.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Afghan refugees</span> Nationals of Afghanistan who left their country as a result of major wars or persecution

Afghan refugees are citizens of Afghanistan who were forced to flee from their country as a result the continuous wars that the country has suffered since the Afghan-Soviet war, the Afghan civil war, the Afghanistan war (2001–2021) or either political or religious persecution. The 1978 Saur Revolution, followed by the 1979 Soviet invasion, marked the first major wave of internal displacement and international migration to neighboring Iran and Pakistan; smaller numbers also went to India or to countries of the former Soviet Union. Between 1979 and 1992, more than 20% of Afghanistan's population fled the country as refugees. Following the Soviet withdrawal in 1989, many returned to Afghanistan, however many Afghans were again forced to flee during the civil war in the 90s. Over 6 million Afghan refugees were residing in Iran and Pakistan by 2000. Most refugees returned to Afghanistan following the 2001 United States invasion and overthrow of the Taliban regime. Between 2002 and 2012, 5.7 million refugees returned to Afghanistan, increasing the country's population by 25%.

Illegal immigration, or unauthorized immigration, occurs when foreign nationals, known as aliens, violate US immigration laws by entering the United States unlawfully, or by lawfully entering but then remaining after the expiration of their visas, parole or temporary protected status.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Refugees in India</span> Overview of legally registered refugees residing in India

Since its independence in 1947, India has accepted various groups of refugees from neighbouring countries, including partition refugees from former British Indian territories that now constitute Pakistan and Bangladesh, Tibetan refugees that arrived in 1959, Chakma refugees from present day Bangladesh in early 1960s, other Bangladeshi refugees in 1965 and 1971, Sri Lankan Tamil refugees from the 1980s and most recently Rohingya refugees from Myanmar. In 1992, India was seen to be hosting 400,000 refugees from eight countries. According to records with the Union Ministry of Home Affairs, as on January 1,2021, there were 58,843 Sri Lankan refugees staying in 108 refugee camps in Tamil Nadu and 54 in Odisha and 72,312 Tibetan refugees have been living in India.

Illegal immigration is the migration of people into a country in violation of that country's immigration laws, or the continuous residence in a country without the legal right to do so. Illegal immigration tends to be financially upward, from poorer to richer countries. Illegal residence in another country creates the risk of detention, deportation, and other imposed sanctions.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Immigration to Greece</span>

Immigration to Greece percentage of foreign populations in Greece is 7.1% in proportion to the total population of the country. Moreover, between 9 and 11% of the registered Greek labor force of 4.4 million are foreigners. Migrants additionally make up 25% of wage and salary earners.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Afghanistan–Pakistan relations</span> Bilateral relations

Afghanistan–Pakistan relations refer to the bilateral ties between Afghanistan and Pakistan. In August 1947, the partition of British India led to the emergence of Pakistan along Afghanistan's eastern frontier, and the two countries have since had a strained relationship; Afghanistan was the sole country to vote against Pakistan's admission into the United Nations following the latter's independence. Territorial disputes along the widely known "Durand Line" and conflicting claims prevented the normalization of bilateral ties between the countries throughout the mid-20th century. Various Afghan government officials and Afghan nationalists have made irredentist claims to large swathes of Pakistan's territory in modern-day Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Pakistani Balochistan, which complete the traditional homeland of "Pashtunistan" for the Pashtun people. Afghan territorial claims over Pashtun-majority areas that are in Pakistan were coupled with discontent over the permanency of the Durand Line which has long been considered the international border by every nation other than Afghanistan, and for which Afghanistan demanded a renegotiation, with the aim of having it shifted eastward to the Indus River. During the Taliban insurgency, the Taliban has received substantial financial and logistical backing from Pakistan, which remains a significant source of support. Nonetheless, Pakistan's support for the Taliban is not without risks, as it involves playing a precarious and delicate game. Further Afghanistan–Pakistan tensions have arisen concerning a variety of issues, including the Afghan conflict and Afghan refugees in Pakistan, water-sharing rights, and a continuously warming relationship between Afghanistan and India, but most of all the Taliban government in Afghanistan providing sanctuary and safe havens to Pakistani Taliban terrorists to attack Pakistani territory. Border tensions between Afghanistan and Pakistan have escalated to an unprecedented degree following recent instances of violence along the border. The Durand Line witnesses frequent occurrences of suicide bombings, airstrikes, or street battles on an almost daily basis. The Taliban-led Afghan government has also accused Pakistan of undermining relations between Afghanistan and China and creating discord between the neighbouring countries.

British Afghans are British citizens and non-citizen residents born in or with ancestors from, Afghanistan, part of worldwide Afghan diaspora. The Office for National Statistics (ONS) estimates that there were 79,000 people born in Afghanistan living in the UK in 2019.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Afghans in Pakistan</span> Citizens of Afghanistan temporarily residing in Pakistan

Afghans in Pakistan are temporary residents from Afghanistan, some of who are registered in Pakistan as refugees and asylum seekers. The registered fall under the jurisdiction of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR). Many of them were born and raised in Pakistan during the last four decades. Additionally, there are also Special Immigrant Visa applicants awaiting to immigrate to the United States.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Immigration to Pakistan</span>

Immigration to Pakistan is the legal entry and settlement of foreign nationals in Pakistan. Immigration policy is overseen by the Interior Minister of Pakistan through the Directorate General Passports. Most immigrants are not eligible for citizenship or permanent residency, unless they are married to a Pakistani citizen or a Commonwealth citizen who has invested a minimum of PKR 5 million in the local economy.

Afghans in Iran are citizens of Afghanistan who are temporarily residing in Iran as refugees or asylum seekers. They form the largest percent of the Afghan diaspora. The first wave of Afghans crossed into Iran after the start of the Soviet–Afghan War in 1979.

Afghan diaspora refers to the Afghan people that reside and work outside of Afghanistan. They include natives and citizens of Afghanistan who have immigrated to other countries. The majority of the diaspora has been formed by Afghan refugees since the start of the Soviet–Afghan War in 1979; the largest numbers temporarily reside in Iran. As stateless refugees or asylum seekers, they are protected by the well-established non-refoulement principle and the U.N. Convention Against Torture. The ones having at least one American parent are further protected by United States laws.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Afghanistan–Indonesia relations</span> Bilateral relations

The Islamic Republic of Afghanistan and Indonesia established diplomatic relations on 20 May 1950. The relationship is mostly founded on common religious solidarity, as Indonesia is the world's most populous Muslim majority country, and Afghanistan is also a Muslim-majority country. Indonesia has expressed its commitment to support and assist the rebuilding of Post-Taliban Afghanistan in various sectors, including technical training, infrastructure, women's empowerment, higher education, and diplomat training. Indonesia has an embassy in Kabul, while Afghanistan has an embassy in Jakarta. Both nations are full members of Non-Aligned Movement and Organisation of Islamic Cooperation.

An illegal immigrant in India is a foreigner who has entered India either without valid documents or who initially had a valid document, but has overstayed beyond the permitted time, as per the general provisions of the Citizenship Act as amended in 2003. Such persons are not eligible for citizenship by registration or naturalisation. They are also liable to be imprisoned for 2–8 years and fined.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Voluntary return</span>

Voluntary return or voluntary repatriation is usually the return of an illegal immigrant or over-stayer, a rejected asylum seeker, a refugee or displaced person, or an unaccompanied minor; sometimes it is the emigration of a second-generation immigrant who makes an autonomous decision to return to their ethnic homeland when they are unable or unwilling to remain in the host country.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Anwaar ul Haq Kakar</span> Caretaker Prime Minister of Pakistan (born 1971)

Anwaar-ul-Haq Kakar is a Pakistani politician who served as the longest-serving caretaker prime minister of Pakistan between 14 August 2023 and 4 March 2024. He was succeeded by his predecessor Shehbaz Sharif. He assumed membership in the Upper House of Pakistan in March 2018. Before taking on the role of caretaker prime minister, Kakar had resigned from the upper house of parliament. Subsequently, he publicly declared his resignation from both the Senate and the Balochistan Awami Party (BAP), a political party he established in 2018.

Deportation of Afghan immigrants from the United States typically refers to the forced repatriation of Afghans who are convicted of crimes in the United States and are not American citizens.

The war in Afghanistan ended with the Taliban victorious when the United States withdrew its troops from Afghanistan. The aftermath has been characterized by marked change in the social and political order of Afghanistan as Taliban took over the country once again after the fall of Kabul in 2021.

On 12 December 2023, the Deobandi jihadist insurgent group Tehreek-e-Jihad Pakistan attacked a police station in Daraban, Dera Ismail Khan District, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan, killing at least 23 people.

References

  1. 1 2 "Pakistan issues final warning to illegal immigrants to leave voluntarily before the November 1 deadline". RadioFreeEurope/RadioLiberty. 26 October 2023. Retrieved 31 October 2023.
  2. ↑ Ahmed, Munir. "Pakistan announces big crackdown on migrants in the country illegally, including 1.7 million Afghans". ABC News. Retrieved 31 October 2023.
  3. ↑ "Can Pakistan deport 1.7 million Afghan refugees? – DW – 10/04/2023". dw.com. Retrieved 31 October 2023.
  4. ↑ Hussain, Abid. "As Pakistan deports refugees, tense Afghanistan ties come in sharp focus". Al Jazeera. Archived from the original on 7 November 2023. Retrieved 7 November 2023. According to the Pakistani government, there were about 4 million foreigners in the country before October 31, nearly 3.8 million of them Afghans. Of those, it says, only 2.2 million Afghans carry a government-approved document that makes them eligible to stay.
  5. ↑ "Pakistan-Afghanistan: Returns Emergency Response (as of 4 April 2024) - Afghanistan | ReliefWeb". reliefweb.int. 5 April 2024. Retrieved 7 April 2024.
  6. ↑ "Pakistan PM says expulsion of Afghans a response to Taliban non-cooperation". Reuters. 8 November 2023. Archived from the original on 8 November 2023. Retrieved 8 November 2023.
  7. ↑ "Pakistan expels undocumented Afghans. But at what price?". The Economist. ISSN   0013-0613. Archived from the original on 6 November 2023. Retrieved 7 November 2023.
  8. ↑ Kugelman, Michael (1 November 2023). "Why Is Pakistan Expelling 1.7 Million Afghans?". Foreign Policy. Archived from the original on 3 November 2023. Retrieved 7 November 2023.
  9. ↑ "Forced expulsion". Dawn. 8 November 2023. Archived from the original on 8 November 2023. Retrieved 8 November 2023.
  10. ↑ Ghosh, Anwesha (2019). "Afghan Migration and Pakistan's Policy Response: Dynamics of Continuity and Change". Public Policy Research in the Global South. pp. 215–230. doi:10.1007/978-3-030-06061-9_12. ISBN   978-3-030-06060-2. S2CID   159051369. Archived from the original on 9 October 2023. Retrieved 7 October 2023.
  11. ↑ "Hundreds of thousands of Afghan migrants face deportation from Pakistan". NBC News. 1 November 2023. Archived from the original on 6 November 2023. Retrieved 6 November 2023.
  12. ↑ Hussain, Abid. "'Where do I go back to?': Expelled Afghans battle chaos at Pakistan border". Al Jazeera. Archived from the original on 3 November 2023. Retrieved 4 November 2023.
  13. ↑ Yeung, Sophia Saifi, Jessie (3 November 2023). "'There is no school for girls': Afghans who fled to Pakistan sent back to a homeland that is foreign to many". CNN. Archived from the original on 3 November 2023. Retrieved 4 November 2023.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  14. ↑ "Pakistan says it will deport 1.7m Afghans and all other 'illegal immigrants'". The Guardian. 6 October 2023. Archived from the original on 7 October 2023. Retrieved 7 October 2023.
  15. ↑ Shahzad, Asif (3 October 2023). "Pakistan orders illegal immigrants, including 1.73 mln Afghans, to leave". Reuters. Archived from the original on 2 November 2023. Retrieved 4 November 2023– via www.reuters.com.
  16. ↑ "Pakistan to Begin Deportation of 1.7 Million Undocumented Afghans". Voice of America. 3 October 2023. Archived from the original on 6 October 2023. Retrieved 7 October 2023.
  17. ↑ "Govt launches action against Illegal immigrants as deadline ends". The Nation. 1 November 2023. Archived from the original on 6 November 2023. Retrieved 6 November 2023.
  18. ↑ Khan, Iftikhar A. (4 October 2023). "Undocumented 'aliens' given 28 days to leave". DAWN. Archived from the original on 6 November 2023. Retrieved 7 November 2023.
  19. ↑ Hussain, Abid. "Thousands of Afghan refugees fleeing Pakistan as deportation deadline looms". Al Jazeera. Archived from the original on 4 November 2023. Retrieved 4 November 2023.
  20. ↑ "More than 165,000 Afghans flee Pakistan after deportation order". France 24. 2 November 2023. Archived from the original on 4 November 2023. Retrieved 4 November 2023.
  21. ↑ Hussain, Abid. "Why is Pakistan planning to deport undocumented Afghans?". Al Jazeera. Archived from the original on 8 October 2023. Retrieved 7 October 2023.
  22. ↑ "Govt initiates nationwide operation to deport illegal foreign nationals". www.radio.gov.pk. Archived from the original on 3 November 2023. Retrieved 5 November 2023.
  23. ↑ "MSN". MSN . Archived from the original on 5 November 2023. Retrieved 5 November 2023.
  24. ↑ "Ministry of Interior establishes dedicated helpline for complaints against illegal immigrants". Times of Karachi.[ permanent dead link ]
  25. ↑ "Comprehensive plan finalized for repatriation of illegal foreigners". www.radio.gov.pk. Archived from the original on 5 November 2023. Retrieved 4 November 2023.
  26. ↑ "Officials must be respectful with undocumented immigrants, directs Bugti". 31 October 2023. Archived from the original on 6 November 2023. Retrieved 6 November 2023.
  27. ↑ "Pakistan to Expel over a Million Illegal Migrants After November 1. Here's Why". Archived from the original on 6 November 2023. Retrieved 6 November 2023.
  28. ↑ "Govt launches action against Illegal immigrants as deadline ends". November 2023. Archived from the original on 6 November 2023. Retrieved 6 November 2023.
  29. ↑ Baloch, Shah Meer (1 November 2023). "Pakistan starts mass deportation of undocumented Afghans". The Guardian. ISSN   0261-3077. Archived from the original on 4 November 2023. Retrieved 4 November 2023.
  30. ↑ "Pakistan's expulsion order deepens the Afghan crisis". Financial Times. 12 November 2023. Archived from the original on 15 November 2023. Retrieved 15 November 2023.
  31. ↑ "Assets Worth $4Bn of Afghans Has Been Confiscated, Says Pak-Afg Joint Chamber of Commerce". Afghanistan International. 4 November 2023. Archived from the original on 4 November 2023. Retrieved 4 November 2023.
  32. ↑ "Country to implement ODR to check illegal immigration". 4 November 2023. Archived from the original on 4 November 2023. Retrieved 5 November 2023.
  33. ↑ "Pakistan to introduce '1-document regime' for Afghan travelers". The Express Tribune. 2 October 2023. Archived from the original on 5 November 2023. Retrieved 5 November 2023.
  34. ↑ Farooq, Umer (6 November 2023). "Over 170,000 Afghans left Pakistan since Sept 17: officials". DAWN. Archived from the original on 7 November 2023. Retrieved 7 November 2023.
  35. ↑ "More crossings opened to speed up deportation drive". Globalpoliticsnews. Archived from the original on 4 November 2023. Retrieved 5 November 2023.
  36. ↑ Desk, Web (7 October 2023). "Islamabad police complete geo-tagging of Afghan nationals". ARY NEWS. Archived from the original on 8 October 2023. Retrieved 7 October 2023.{{cite web}}: |last= has generic name (help)
  37. ↑ "Pakistan demolishes homes, raids neighbourhoods under crackdown to force millions of Afghans to leave". ABC News. 3 November 2023. Archived from the original on 6 November 2023. Retrieved 6 November 2023.
  38. ↑ Afghans Refugee Homes Demolished In Islamabad Ahead Of Deadline To Leave Pakistan, 1 November 2023, archived from the original on 3 November 2023, retrieved 4 November 2023
  39. ↑ Report, Recorder (2 November 2023). "Eviction of illegal foreign nationals begins in Punjab". Brecorder. Archived from the original on 4 November 2023. Retrieved 5 November 2023.
  40. ↑ Report, Recorder (1 November 2023). "Evacuation of illegal foreign nationals: IGP Punjab announces plan". Brecorder. Archived from the original on 5 November 2023. Retrieved 5 November 2023.
  41. ↑ "Seven Pakistanis escape 'deportation' to Afghanistan". Dawn. 20 November 2023. Archived from the original on 20 November 2023. Retrieved 20 November 2023.
  42. ↑ "Cabinet allocates Rs4.5b for repatriation of illegal aliens". The Express Tribune. 1 November 2023. Archived from the original on 5 November 2023. Retrieved 4 November 2023.
  43. ↑ "Caretaker cabinet approves funds for repatriation of illegal foreigners". The Nation. 1 November 2023. Archived from the original on 4 November 2023. Retrieved 4 November 2023.
  44. ↑ "Pakistan imposes $830 (£660) exit fee on Afghan refugees and illegal immigrants". The Times of India. 24 November 2023. ISSN   0971-8257. Archived from the original on 24 November 2023. Retrieved 24 November 2023.
  45. ↑ Baloch, Shah Meer (22 November 2023). "Pakistan under fire for 'shocking' $830 exit fee for refugees who fled Taliban". The Guardian. ISSN   0261-3077. Archived from the original on 24 November 2023. Retrieved 24 November 2023.
  46. ↑ "Pakistan charging refugees $830 to leave". 23 November 2023. Archived from the original on 24 November 2023. Retrieved 24 November 2023.
  47. ↑ "Pakistan's plan to evict thousands of Afghans 'unacceptable', says Taliban". Al Jazeera. Archived from the original on 8 October 2023. Retrieved 7 October 2023.
  48. ↑ "Pakistan: Afghans Detained, Face Deportation | Human Rights Watch". 31 October 2023. Archived from the original on 4 November 2023. Retrieved 4 November 2023.
  49. ↑ "Pakistan: Drop Threat to Deport Afghans | Human Rights Watch". 12 October 2023. Archived from the original on 3 November 2023. Retrieved 4 November 2023.
  50. ↑ "Afghans in Pakistan seeking resettlement in Canada fear being deported back to Afghanistan". The Globe and Mail. 3 November 2023. Archived from the original on 4 November 2023. Retrieved 4 November 2023.
  51. ↑ "Pakistan: Decision on forced returns of Afghan refugees must be reversed immediately". Amnesty International. 31 October 2023. Archived from the original on 3 November 2023. Retrieved 4 November 2023.
  52. ↑ "Pakistan: Government must not deport Afghan Refugees". Amnesty International. 4 October 2023. Archived from the original on 21 October 2023. Retrieved 4 November 2023.
  53. ↑ RFE/RL. "Amnesty International Flags Pakistan Over Treatment Of Afghan Refugees". RadioFreeEurope/RadioLiberty. Archived from the original on 1 August 2023. Retrieved 4 November 2023.
  54. ↑ "Taliban urges Pakistan to grant more time for undocumented Afghans to leave". Al Jazeera. Archived from the original on 4 November 2023. Retrieved 4 November 2023.
  55. ↑ "Kabul rejects deportation policy amid Pakistan resolve". www.thenews.com.pk. Archived from the original on 7 October 2023. Retrieved 7 October 2023.
  56. ↑ "Pakistan's Plan to Expel Illegal Afghan Migrants Alarms UN". VOA. 28 September 2023. Archived from the original on 7 October 2023. Retrieved 7 October 2023.
  57. ↑ "Taliban, Rights Groups Decry Pakistan's Decision to Evict Afghan Immigrants". VOA. 4 October 2023. Archived from the original on 9 October 2023. Retrieved 7 October 2023.
  58. ↑ "Pakistan to Begin Deportation of 1.7 Million Undocumented Afghans". VOA. 3 October 2023. Archived from the original on 6 October 2023. Retrieved 7 October 2023.
  59. ↑ "Pakistan says will not extend deadline for illegal immigrants to leave". 26 October 2023. Archived from the original on 6 November 2023. Retrieved 6 November 2023.
  60. ↑ "Pakistan won't extend deadline for expelling illegal immigrants: Interior Minister". Khaama Press. 26 October 2023. Archived from the original on 7 November 2023. Retrieved 6 November 2023.
  61. ↑ "'Illegal foreigners repatriation compliant with int'l norms'". Archived from the original on 3 November 2023. Retrieved 4 November 2023.
  62. ↑ "Deportation process applies to all illegal 'aliens': Kakar". 30 October 2023. Archived from the original on 4 November 2023. Retrieved 5 November 2023.
  63. ↑ "'Illegal foreigners repatriation compliant with int'l norms'". Archived from the original on 3 November 2023. Retrieved 5 November 2023.
  64. ↑ "Illegal immigrants: Operation not aimed at any particular nationality: FO". 6 October 2023. Archived from the original on 4 November 2023. Retrieved 5 November 2023.
  65. ↑ "Repatriation of illegal foreigners to continue without any reconsideration: FO". 2 November 2023. Archived from the original on 4 November 2023. Retrieved 5 November 2023.
  66. ↑ "Deportation drive aimed at all illegal residents, not solely Afghans: Bugti". Archived from the original on 4 November 2023. Retrieved 5 November 2023.
  67. ↑ "Interior minister insists deportation drive aimed at all illegal residents_ not solely Afghans". Archived from the original on 4 November 2023. Retrieved 5 November 2023.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.