KABUL (SW) – Officials of the Islamic Emirate have called on the Pakistani government to refrain from expelling Afghan migrants during the Eid al-Fitr celebrations.
Officials at the Ministry of Repatriations and Refugees (MoRR) have condemned the mass deportation of Afghan migrants from Pakistan, describing it as a violation of international principles and norms.
“This action is against Islamic principles and neighborly relations. Pakistan must stop this process, especially during Eid, which is a time of happiness for Muslims; it should not turn it into sorrow,” the ministry’s spokesperson, Abdul Mutaleb Haqqani, said.
Recently, Pakistan’s Minister of Interior, Mohsin Naqvi, stated that preparations and necessary measures have been taken for the deportation of Afghan migrants.
On the other hand, Afghan migrants in Pakistan, worried about the start of the deportation process in the country, say they are living in fear.
Ali Rezaie, an Afghan migrant in Pakistan, says that as the deadline for the forced deportation of Afghan migrants approaches, restrictions against them have increased.
He adds, “Afghans who have POR and ICC cards have lived and invested here for years. With the deadline they set, it is impossible for us to leave; we are living in difficult circumstances.”
Emal Habibi, another Afghan migrant in Pakistan, says, “The pressure from the Pakistani government has been increasing, and it has even been announced that Afghan migrants should not be rented homes, and those who have businesses should not be hired.”
On March 7, Pakistan ordered Afghan migrants to leave the country by March 31, or they would be forcibly deported.
Some other Afghan migrants find visa extensions to be both costly and challenging under the current circumstances.
Abdullah Mohammadi, an Afghan refugee in Pakistan, shared, “There are only a few days left before the deadline set by the Pakistani government, and our concerns are increasing; migrants are worried about their future.”
Pakistan began its deportation process for illegal migrants in October 2023. According to the latest statistics provided by the United Nations, over 842,000 Afghan citizens have been expelled from Pakistan since the start of the deportation process.
