The Pakistani government has initiated the process of expulsion of all foreign nationals illegally residing in the country, including the Afghans, sources announced on Wednesday.
However, Afghans sponsored by European countries or other foreign countries will not be expelled at the moment. If their reinstallation does not materialize soon, they can also face expulsion, according to sources from the Ministry of the Interior.
The officials said that by virtue of the repatriation plan for illegal foreigners (IFRP), all undocumented strangers currently living in Pakistan will be returned to their respective countries. As part of this plan, 781 Afghan nationals have already been repatriated from Islamabad via the Torkham border.
However, sources have said that Afghan refugees who have been sponsored by European countries or other foreign countries and expect resettlement will not be expelled for the moment.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has been responsible for urging sponsored countries to accelerate the relocation process.
UNHCR, Oom raises concerns
Meanwhile, the United Nations Refugee Agency (UNHCR) and the International Migration Organization (IOM) have expressed their concerns concerning the “plan designed” to move Afghan refugees from Islamabad and Rawalpindi , requesting clarification on the “modality and delay” of moving it.
The concerns occurred one day after reports suggested that Afghan refugees were “quietly” left the federal capital and Rawalpindi to be finally repatriated to their country. The measures were assigned to a plan designed in a series of meetings held last week under Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif.
In a joint declaration published in Islamabad on Wednesday, UNHCR and IOM recognized state authority to restrict the circulation of foreigners, including refugees.
However, they urged the authorities to “implement all resettlement measures with a reasonable consideration for human rights standards, including the regular procedure, and the legal status of proof of registration (POR) And holders of the Afghan card (ACC), who resided in Pakistan for a Pakistan for an extended period. “
The UNHCR and the OIM noted that the absence of a clear calendar to plan a worthy relocation added to an already stressful situation, with immediate consequences for the means of subsistence and the education of children.
“Pakistan has a long -standing tradition of refugees and saving millions of lives. This generosity is deeply valued,” said UNHCR declaration.
“The forced return to Afghanistan could place some people at risk.
While recognizing the challenges linked to the security encountered by the government, organizations stressed that refugees, like all individuals, should respect the law.
“The overwhelming majority of Afghan nationals in Pakistan are laws that are respectful of the laws, the situation of which must be seen through a humanitarian lens,” the statement said.
The head of the IOM mission, Mio Sato, reaffirmed their commitment to collaborate with the government and the UNHCR in the creation of a mechanism to “register, manage and detect Afghan nationals”. (With News Desk entry)
