Pakistan, US discuss options to expedite Afghan resettlement plan

Islamabad and Washington have discussed ways to expedite the process of resettlement of thousands of Afghans who are eligible for migration to the United States.

Various options were discussed during the four-day visit of US Assistant Secretary of State Julieta Valls Noyes to Pakistan this week. Noyes is a pointperson of the Biden administration looking after issues of refugees and migration.

She held a series of meetings with Pakistani officials, representatives of the UN and other international organisations as well as some Afghan refugees.

A statement issued by the US Embassy here said she reaffirmed the United States' steadfast commitment to the protection and safe, efficient resettlement and relocation of eligible Afghan refugees to the United States.

“In meetings with senior Pakistani government officials, Assistant Secretary Noyes discussed how both countries can work together to accelerate the processing of Afghan nationals eligible for relocation or resettlement in the United States, expressed the US desire to continue working with the Government of Pakistan as we process individuals in US resettlement pathways, and encouraged upholding international humanitarian principles, including non-refoulement, and protecting vulnerable refugees and asylum seekers,” read the official handout.

Also read: Pakistan, US discuss Afghan deportation plan

During her visit, Noyes appreciated the opportunity to meet international partners, including UNHCR and the International Organisation for Migration, as well as the International Committee of the Red Cross and like-minded diplomatic partners to thank them for their intensive efforts to support and protect Afghan refugees. 

The assistant secretary also met and heard directly from Afghan refugees on the concerns most important to them. 

The statement said the United States worked tirelessly to ensure the protection of Afghan refugees and asylum seekers, including those in US resettlement pathways. “We continue to actively explore all possible options to accelerate our refugee and immigrant visa processing in Pakistan,” she was quoted as saying in an official statement.

The Pakistani side kept mum over the visit of a senior US official. When approached, a senior official said her visit was the ongoing contacts between the two countries and the government did not feel the need for issuing any formal statement.

Pakistan has launched a crackdown against Afghans living in the country illegally following the expiry of the deadline on October 31.

Since the decision, the US has been in touch with Pakistan to ensure that Afghans who are eligible for immigration to the US are spared.

There are about 25, 000 Afghans, who according to Washington, are in Pakistan and waiting for their immigration to the US. Those Afghans worked for the US during its military campaign in Afghanistan. 

But after the US withdrawal, they have been stuck in Pakistan, waiting for the process of immigration to complete.

The US has been working with Pakistan to find a workable solution to avoid such Afghans being deported to Afghans.

There are also concerns that other than such Afghans, there are individuals such as musicians, artists, journalists and others who may be evicted. The US is keen that such vulnerable Afghans are not touched either.

Pakistani officials also said their cases would be scrutinised accordingly and made it clear that in the first phase those Afghans are being sent back who don't have any legal status.