Pakistan readies deportation facilities over impending deadline for Afghan nationals
The Pakistani government on Thursday announced its plans to establish several "holding centers" for undocumented migrants, just as the deadline for the deportation of hundreds of thousands of Afghans approaches.
Pakistan has set a deadline of November 1 for Afghans it believes are residing in the country illegally to depart voluntarily or face deportation. The Taliban government has characterized this order as a form of harassment.
"These centers have been named as 'holding centers'. Illegal immigrants will be kept there," Sarfraz Bugti, the caretaker interior minister, said at a press conference.
"They will be provided with medical facilities and food. Children, women, and elders will be treated with special respect. But at the same time, after Nov 1st, we will not compromise on illegal immigrants.”
Feroz Jamal, spokesperson for the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government said three centers situated along the province's border with Afghanistan will be prepared by the specified deadline.
This directive is issued at a time when Pakistan is contending with an increase in attacks that the government attributes to militants operating from Afghanistan, a claim consistently denied by Kabul. Additionally, there is a growing anti-Afghan sentiment amid prolonged economic difficulties faced by the Pakistani state.
Over the course of several decades marked by conflict, Afghans have flocked to Pakistan. This influx began during the Soviet invasion, continued through the subsequent civil war, and extended into the period of the US-led occupation.
United Nations data indicates that approximately 1.3 million Afghans are registered as refugees, while an additional 880,000 have legal status to reside in Pakistan. According to the Pakistani government, an additional 1.7 million Afghans are in the country without legal authorization.
Since the Taliban's assumption of power in Kabul in August 2021 and their imposition of strict Islamic law, it is estimated that hundreds of thousands of Afghans have crossed into Pakistan, with many of them seeking asylum in third countries.
Authorities and politicians have asserted that a recent crackdown targeted individuals lacking legal status, motivated by concerns related to increasing crime and inadequate immigration oversight, which has placed a strain on resources.
However, Afghans have leveled accusations against authorities, alleging that they are making indiscriminate arrests, disregarding valid documentation, and engaging in extortion practices.
The interior minister has also issued a caution, stating that Pakistanis who provide shelter to undocumented Afghans will face severe consequences, while Afghans possessing forged documents will be subject to penalties.
Afghanistan itself is grappling with significant economic challenges. It is disconnected from the international banking system and heavily reliant on humanitarian assistance, especially as the harsh winter months approach.
