November 9, 2023
1 min read

Deportation Decision Risks Further Straining Pak-Afghan Ties

Despite the Taliban’s request for an extension until November 1, no such concession was granted…reports Smruti S Pattanaik

Pakistan’s Caretaker Minister for Interior, Senator Sarfraz Bugti, declared the Illegal Foreigners Repatriation Plan on October 3, setting a deadline of October 30 for Afghan refugees and foreigners with expired visas to return to Afghanistan.

Failure to comply could result in deportation or imprisonment. Despite the Taliban’s request for an extension until November 1, no such concession was granted, the Kathmandu Post reported.

This move has reignited the regional debate on illegal/undocumented migrants and refugees, with questions arising about the terminology used to describe them. The deportation order has been enforced using the 1946 Foreigners Act, targeting Afghans who do not leave by the deadline.

The Kathmandu Post report traces the historical context of Afghan refugees in Pakistan, dating back to the Soviet-Afghan War, and highlights how they served Pakistan’s strategic interests. However, recent internal security concerns, including terrorist attacks involving Afghan nationals, have prompted Pakistan’s decision to expel undocumented refugees. The Human Rights Commission of Pakistan has criticized the move, terming it “ill-considered.”

As the deportation unfolds, reports indicate arrests, family separations, and alleged bribery by law enforcement agencies. The Human Rights Commission of Pakistan has called for a halt to the repatriation, emphasizing the potential humanitarian crisis facing those forced to leave.

The tension between the Taliban and Pakistan, particularly on terrorism-related issues, underlies this expulsion. The decision may exacerbate Afghan-Pakistan tensions and is unlikely to serve as a solution to Pakistan’s internal security challenges.

ALSO READ: ‘Taliban’s Denial of Rights in Afghanistan Must Be Addressed’

Previous Story

UGC Unveils New Regulations for Foreign Universities

Next Story

India Tops China in QS Asia University Rankings 

Latest from -Top News

India’s deepest strikes since 1971 

By extending its strike capabilities deep into Pakistan’s heartland, India has redrawn the contours of conventional deterrence in the subcontinent. This could embolden future Indian responses to cross-border terror attacks, but it

PM calls off Europe trip 

The visit was slated to include India’s participation in the 3rd India-Nordic Summit in Oslo on May 15–16.  Prime Minister Narendra Modi has postponed his forthcoming visits to Norway, Croatia, and the

UK urges direct dialogue 

Describing the situation as a “serious concern,” British Foreign Secretary David Lammy urged both nuclear-armed neighbours to avoid escalation and prioritise diplomatic avenues.  UK Foreign Secretary David Lammy has called on India

Trump urges restraint between India, Pak 

Speaking on the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack, Trump said that both India and Pakistan should work the crisis out  US President Donald Trump on Wednesday expressed his concern over the escalating

Terror hotbeds in Pakistan levelled 

The targets levelled include Markaz Taiba, Sawai Nala camp, Syedna Bilal camp, Barnala camp, Abbas camp, Sarjal camp,  Mehmona Joya camp, Gulpur camp and Markaz Subhanallah    Two weeks after Pakistani terrorists
Go toTop

Don't Miss

US Equipment in Afghanistan Now in Militant Hands, Says Pak Caretaker PM

Kakar said there was a need to adopt a “coordinated

Sindhi leader calls for independence referendums

Burfat argued that the so-called democratic framework in Pakistan is