On Wednesday, Zabihullah Mujahid, the spokesperson for the Afghan Taliban,expressed strong disapproval of Pakistan’s decision to expel undocumentedAfghan nationals and called for a reconsideration of this policy.
This statement came following the Pakistani caretaker government’sultimatum, issued the day before, which required all undocumentedimmigrants, including Afghan nationals, to depart from Pakistan by October31 or face potential imprisonment and deportation to their respectivecountries.
The decision was made during an apex committee meeting led by PrimeMinister Anwaarul Haq Kakar, attended by the army chief, among others. Thecommittee also decided to enforce passport and visa requirements forcross-border movement, with electronic Afghan identity cards (e-tazkiras)being accepted only until October 31. After this deadline, authoritieswould initiate an operation targeting illegal properties and businessesowned by immigrants or those in collaboration with Pakistani nationals.
In a statement posted on the social media platform X (formerly Twitter), inboth Urdu and English, Mujahid voiced his discontent with the treatment ofAfghan refugees in Pakistan and urged authorities to reevaluate theirpolicy. He emphasized that Afghan refugees should not be held responsiblefor Pakistan’s security issues and suggested that Pakistan should toleratethem as long as they leave the country voluntarily.
As of now, the Pakistani Foreign Office has not issued a statementregarding this matter. According to the latest United Nations figures,approximately 1.3 million Afghans are registered refugees in Pakistan, withan additional 880,000 possessing legal status to remain. However, thegovernment claims that an additional 1.7 million Afghans are residing inPakistan illegally.
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This policy announcement has raised concerns from various quarters. FormerPPP senator Farhatullah Babar criticized the government’s handling of therefugee situation, suggesting ulterior motives.
The Afghanistan Embassy in Islamabad accused Punjab and Sindh police ofconducting a harsh operation against Afghan refugees, even detaining womenand children. Amnesty International also criticized the Pakistanigovernment for creating an atmosphere of fear for refugees, and a UnitedNations official stressed the importance of voluntary refugee returnwithout pressure. This situation unfolds against the backdrop of thestate’s crackdown on Afghan refugees.
