Pakistan allays West's concerns on deportation plan

Denies targeting Afghans, saying focus is on people who are living illegally in country

ISLAMABAD:

Pakistan has allayed concerns of the Western nations over its plan to evict all foreigners living illegally in the country after some states feared that deportees might face reprisals from the Afghan Taliban government.

Official sources told The Express Tribune that after Pakistan's crackdown against illegal immigrants, Western countries approached the government seeking clarity with certain nations seeking review of the decision.

Pakistan has given all foreigners residing illegally in the country until Oct 31 to leave voluntarily or face eviction.

There are about 1.7 million such foreigners, as per the government estimates. Majority of them, however, are Afghan nationals. Some families have already packed their bags and left to avoid any action. However, certain European countries and the United States are worried that the plan may affect thousands of Afghans, who are waiting for their immigration in Pakistan.

Last week, a group of former US diplomats and representatives of resettlement organisations asked Pakistan not to deport thousands of Afghans who have been waiting for US visas under an American programme that relocates at-risk Afghan refugees fleeing Taliban rule.

The appeal in an open letter signed by 80 former US officials, dignitaries, and resettlement groups came weeks after Pakistan announced a crackdown on migrants living illegally in the country, including 1.7 million Afghans, telling them to return to their home countries by Oct 31 to avoid mass arrest and expulsion.

Last week, the United Nations said such forced deportations of Afghans could lead to human rights violations — including the separation of families. However, Pakistan denies targeting Afghans, saying the focus is on people who are in the country illegally, regardless of their nationality.

Under the US rules, applicants must first relocate to a third country for their cases to be processed. The process can take up to 14 to 18 months and cases are processed through resettlement support centres, according to the Associated Press.

Thousands of Afghan applicants have been waiting in Pakistan for more than two years for the US officials to process their visa applications. The delay in approving the visas and resettlement has left Afghan applicants in a highly vulnerable position as they contend with economic hardship and lack of access to health, education, and other services in Pakistan.

In the letter sent to Pakistan’s caretaker Prime Minister Anwaarul Haq Kakar, dozens of former US officials and representatives of resettlement organisations asked Pakistan to stop its plan to deport Afghans who entered the country following the withdrawal of US forces from Afghanistan in 2021.

Read also: The legal status of Afghans

“We want Afghans to know that powerful people in the US and Americans from across the nation stand with them,” Shawn VanDiver, president and founder of #AfghanEvac, a nonprofit organisation, said.

“We appreciate Pakistan for providing refuge to our allies following America’s withdrawal from Afghanistan, but this decision will only cause chaos and make a bad situation worse. We urge Pakistan to work with us to resettle qualifying individuals in the US, not send them back to Afghanistan where they face certain doom,” the letter said.

It said Pakistan’s decision to deport Afghans would impact individuals, including former interpreters, journalists, women leaders and others “who face significant risks if returned to Afghanistan”.

“These deportations will not be consistent with Pakistan’s humanitarian tradition, and if pursued, will certainly adversely impact Pakistan’s relationship with the United States and could cause lasting damage to Pakistan’s reputation among the international community,” the letter added.

“Further, it is simply inhumane to treat these vulnerable neighbours in such a manner,” it said.

To address concerns of the western countries, the interior ministry recently invited diplomats to brief them about the Pakistani plan.

Officials clarified that the plan was not meant to target refugees or those who are residing in the country with valid documents.

Sources said Pakistan assured the US and other Western countries for not resorting to any action against Afghans waiting for immigration but told them to expedite their visa process.

Pakistan's efforts to deport all illegal immigrants are seen in the context of both security and economic reasons.

Observers believed the policy also reflected a change in Pakistan's policy on Afghanistan.