Pakistan has warned the US it will deport Afghans awaiting resettlement if deadlines are unmet, following President Trump’s suspension of the Afghan refugee program. Many Afghans fled to Pakistan after aiding US efforts against the Taliban. The slow relocation process raises concerns about their future, with Pakistan tightening policies towards all Afghan refugees amidst strained ties with the Taliban.
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan has formally communicated to the United States that it would deport all Afghans awaiting resettlement in America if the established deadline for their relocation is not met or if their cases are denied. This message was conveyed through diplomatic channels after the issuance of President Donald Trump’s executive order, which temporarily suspends the Afghan refugee settlement program for 90 days.
Thousands of Afghans, who provided assistance to the United States and allied forces during operations against the Taliban, have fled to Pakistan, seeking temporary refuge. Pakistan agreed to the request of the US and its allies to allow them to remain for a short period while awaiting their relocation.
While the US and its allies pledged special immigration visas to these Afghans, the relocation process significantly slowed during the Biden administration. Previously, the US government had pledged to relocate all eligible Afghans by September 2025. However, the suspending of the program by President Trump complicates meeting that deadline.
Pakistan has expressed concerns that these Afghans may never be relocated to the US due to the stringent anti-immigration policies implemented by the current US administration. Consequently, it has firmly informed the Trump administration that it will not permit these Afghans to remain in Pakistan beyond September 2025.
Neither government has disclosed the precise number of Afghans currently stranded in Pakistan, but estimates suggest it ranges from 15,000 to 25,000 individuals. In a recent interview with TRT World, Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar asserted that if these refugees are not timely relocated, Pakistan might be compelled to regard them as illegal immigrants and repatriate them to Afghanistan.
Nevertheless, the foreign minister indicated openness to dialogue with Washington to address the situation. Pakistan is overall tightening its policy towards Afghan refugees, focusing on the repatriation of all Afghans residing in the country. Initially targeting undocumented Afghans, the government’s efforts are now set to extend to all Afghan nationals, regardless of their legal status.
This push for the eviction of Afghans is rooted in Pakistan’s fraught relations with the Taliban regime, prompting a re-evaluation of its approach toward Afghan refugees.
In summary, Pakistan has asserted its position regarding Afghan refugees, emphasizing the need for timely relocation to the US or facing deportation. The ongoing diplomatic dialogues, alongside tightened policies, reflect the complexities of its relationship with both the Afghan refugees and the Taliban. This situation remains critical as deadlines loom and tensions escalate.
Original Source: tribune.com.pk
