Pakistan Roundup: Illegal immigrants, Gaza aid, US relations
Deportation of illegal immigrants
Pakistan's interior ministry reported that over 500,000 illegal immigrants have been repatriated under the government's deportation drive against illegal aliens. The government had given an ultimatum to undocumented immigrants to leave Pakistan by October 31, 2023, or face imprisonment and deportation, local media the Dawn reported. The majority of these are Afghans. The ministry said that around 1.7 million illegal aliens are unlawfully living in Pakistan, with 541,210 people sent back after the cabinet approved the deportation plan. The ministry said that continuous efforts are underway to identify and deport the remaining people.
Humanitarian aid to Gaza
Pakistan has delivered 20 tonnes of humanitarian and medical aid to Gaza on January 2. The aid was handed over to the Egyptian Red Crescent Society, which will then deliver it to the Palestinian Red Crescent Society in Gaza. With this latest delivery, Pakistan's aid to the Gaza population now exceeds 200 tonnes in terms of medical and humanitarian supplies, according to local media the Express Tribune.
Pakistan-US relations
Pakistan and the US have renewed their commitment to strengthen their bilateral relations in 2024, following high-level exchanges in the past year. Pakistan’s Caretaker Foreign Minister Jalil Abbas Jilani and US Ambassador to Pakistan Donald Blome discussed major aspects of bilateral relations on January 2. According to local media The News, the diplomats discussed bilateral issues such as expanded engagement, safe and efficient processing of Afghan citizens for resettlement to the US, and other mutually beneficial matters.
Terrorists killed at Afghan border
Pakistani security forces killed three terrorists attempting to infiltrate the Pakistan-Afghan border in the Bajaur district of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, Pakistan on December 31, 2023. The Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), the media wing of the Pakistan Armed Forces reported that the terrorists were captured and weapons, ammunition, and explosives were recovered. “After fire exchange, all three terrorists were sent to hell,” the ISPR is quoted by local media The Nation.
IMF board review
The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has added Pakistan to its Executive Board agenda for January 11, where it is expected to deliberate and potentially approve the disbursement of the next $700 million tranche under the existing $3 billion Stand-By Arrangement (SBA). The current IMF programme, amounting to $3bn, is expected to conclude in April, with $1.8bn remaining undisbursed. A Staff-Level Agreement was reached between the IMF staff and Pakistani authorities in November 2023 regarding the first review under Pakistan's SBA, contingent upon approval by the IMF's Executive Board, the Dawn reported.
