KABUL (SW) – Authorities in Pakistan have resumed harassing and persecuting Afghan refugees under different pretexts.
After Pakistan tightened restrictions on the flow of Afghan refugees, a number of Afghan refugees in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa now say the new law has caused them many problems.
Malak Awal Khan, head of the Afghan Refugees Union in Khyber Pashtunkhwa, told Salam Watandar that in addition to former migrants to Pakistan, a large number of Afghan migrants have recently entered Pakistan and that the new law has created increasing problems for them all.
“We are very worried and upset,” he added. “This problem must be resolved through consultation between the two countries.” Sabur Ahmadzai, an Afghan refugee in the KPK. He also acknowledged the growing problems of migrants. He told Salam Watandar that Pakistani police had recently arrested 300 undocumented Afghan refugees and returned them to Afghanistan after keeping them for several days in prison.
According to Mr Ahmadzai, those without visas and other credentials are still being harassed or detained by Pakistani police. He added: “The problems of the Afghan refugees must be solved. I call on the Islamic Emirate, which is in power, to solve the problems of the Afghans. Thousands of Afghans are living here with problems.”
An official at the Afghan consulate in KPK, speaking on condition of anonymity, said that about one million Afghan refugees in Pakistan were illegally displaced and that restrictions on their entry to Pakistan were legal. “Illegal immigrants are deported after arrest,” he added.
He believed that Afghan citizens should not enter Pakistan without proper documents because, according to him, security has been provided in the country.
According to Pakistani media reports, the government has decided to increase restrictions on Afghans traveling to the country under new laws and not allow people to leave unattended.
Previously, people could only go to Pakistan via Spinboldak crossing point with an identity card, but Pakistan has said this is no longer possible. The Pakistani government has insisted on returning undocumented Afghans to Afghanistan immediately.
We also tried to get the views of the officials of the Ministry of Refugees and Repatriation in this regard; But we did not succeed despite repeated calls.
ENDS
