Pakistan has warned the US it will deport Afghans awaiting resettlement if deadlines are not met. The US Afghan refugee settlement program has been paused, leading to concerns about relocating eligible Afghans. Pakistan aims to repatriate all Afghans, tightening policies amidst strained ties with the Taliban. Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar emphasized that without timely action, these individuals would be deemed illegal immigrants.
Pakistan has informed the United States that it will deport all Afghan nationals awaiting resettlement in the US if relocation deadlines are not met or if their immigration cases are denied. This communication followed President Donald Trump’s executive order that paused the Afghan refugee settlement program for 90 days. Thousands of Afghans, who aided the US and its allies during military operations against the Taliban, are currently in Pakistan seeking temporary shelter.
Pakistan had agreed to the request from the US and its partners to allow these Afghans to remain in the country briefly before they could travel to their final destinations. The US and its allies had committed to processing special immigration visas for these individuals. However, the Biden administration’s slow processing has raised concerns about the timely relocation of Afghans eligible for these visas.
The previous US administration had planned to complete this relocation by September 2025, but Trump’s suspension of the program complicates this timeline. Pakistan fears that many Afghans may be stranded indefinitely due to stricter immigration policies in the current US administration. Consequently, it has made it clear to the Trump administration that it will not permit these Afghans to remain in Pakistan beyond September 2025.
Estimates suggest there are between 15,000 and 25,000 Afghans currently in Pakistan, though the exact figure has not been disclosed by either government. Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar stated in a recent interview that if resettlement does not occur within the agreed timeframe, Pakistan would treat these individuals as illegal immigrants and may return them to Afghanistan.
Despite its firm stance, Pakistan is open to continuing discussions with the US to resolve this issue. The government has decided to enforce stricter policies toward Afghan refugees, including evicting undocumented Afghans, a campaign that has been ongoing since October 2023. This new approach aims to repatriate all Afghans in Pakistan regardless of their legal status, prompted by deteriorating relations with the Taliban regime.
Pakistan’s efforts to manage Afghan refugees stem from both humanitarian and geopolitical considerations. With a significant Afghan population in the country, the urgency for a resolution has intensified due to US policy changes and the growing tension with the Taliban. The future of these Afghan nationals hinges on effective collaboration between Pakistan and the US to ensure timely resettlement and adherence to immigration agreements.
Original Source: tribune.com.pk
