Pakistan’s Deportation Decision Has Shaken Afghans: United Nations

The head of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) in Pakistan has expressed concern over the approaching deadline for Afghan Citizen Card (ACC) holders to leave the country. He warned that the decision has "shaken the Afghan community."

Under the Pakistani government's plan to repatriate all undocumented foreign nationals, March 31 was set as the voluntary departure deadline for ACC holders. The Ministry of Interior reiterated that mass deportations would begin afterward.

In her Eid-ul-Fitr message, UNHCR Representative in Pakistan, Philippa Candler, voiced her concerns as Pakistani authorities dismissed any possibility of extending the deadline.

In her message titled "A Plea for Compassion: Afghan Refugees in Pakistan and the Path to Hope," Candler highlighted that Pakistan hosts 1.52 million registered Afghan refugees and around 800,000 ACC holders, in addition to a large number of undocumented Afghans.

She recalled meeting an Afghan family last week who fled Afghanistan in 2022 in search of safety, leaving everything behind. She expressed heartbreak at seeing their fear of returning, saying their hopes and dreams had been shattered.

Candler further noted that Afghan migrants have contributed to Pakistan’s workforce, started businesses, and played a role in the country’s economy. Over time, they became integrated into Pakistani society.

Despite their contributions, she said, Afghan refugees in Pakistan often face discrimination, limited access to formal employment, and a lack of legal rights, making their lives insecure and pushing many to the margins of society.

The UNHCR representative warned that the government's latest deportation measures would severely disrupt communities. She stressed that expelling Afghans who have settled in Pakistan and forcing them to return to an uncertain future in Afghanistan would make reintegration difficult.

Meanwhile, authorities in Khyber district have set up temporary camps in Landi Kotal and Peshawar to facilitate returning refugees.

Qureshi Badlon, spokesperson for the Nangarhar provincial government in Afghanistan, told Dawn News that the Taliban administration has also made arrangements at Torkham to receive returning refugees.

Last week, Afghan Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi met Pakistan’s special envoy to Afghanistan, Mohammad Sadiq, in Kabul, urging Pakistan to grant more time to ACC holders, as their sudden return could pose challenges for the Afghan government.

A Solution Benefiting All

Candler emphasized that the situation requires a multifaceted approach.

She urged Pakistan and Afghanistan to work together to ensure Afghan refugees return voluntarily and safely, as forced deportations are neither beneficial nor sustainable. She noted that many of those deported in 2023 had already returned to Pakistan.

A sustainable return, she explained, means creating a peaceful and secure environment in Afghanistan where returnees do not fear persecution or discrimination.

The UNHCR representative pointed out that while many Afghans have moved to other countries, thousands still remain in Pakistan. She called for urgent measures to provide durable solutions and stability for them.

Candler praised Pakistan for its longstanding hospitality toward Afghan refugees but acknowledged that the country cannot bear this responsibility indefinitely.

She proposed that Pakistan, Afghanistan, and the international community collaborate to develop a comprehensive strategy that addresses both immediate and long-term needs of Afghan refugees.