Relations between Pakistan and Afghanistan may be strained, as the Afghanistan embassy has expressed concern over the detention and deportation of 800 Afghan nationals. It is being said that this includes people who have valid visas and documents.
Relations between Pakistan and Afghanistan, which have been very tense for the past few months, may turn sour. In fact, expressing deep concern over the detention of nearly 800 Afghan nationals, the Afghanistan embassy in Islamabad has claimed that the lack of clarity over documents has led to alarming cases of ‘arbitrary detention and deportation’. According to the embassy, ​​the 800 Afghans detained include nationals with valid visas, Proof of Registration Card (POR) and Afghan Citizen Card (ACC).
Pakistan said that they are expelling illegal immigrants
Afghanistan’s embassy has said it is particularly concerned by reports of unnecessary arrests, house searches and extortion of Afghan nationals. “We appeal to the Government of Pakistan to address these serious concerns immediately,” the embassy said in a post on social media platform ‘X’ late Monday night. On the embassy’s claim, Pakistani officials have said that they are only deporting illegal immigrants. Expressing deep concern over the detention of nearly 800 Afghan nationals in Islamabad, including those with valid visas, PORs and ACCs, the embassy post said, “Lack of clarity on conditions for obtaining NOCs has led to arbitrary detentions and worrisome cases have come to light. .deportation
Appeal for immediate intervention from human rights organizations
According to reports, 137 of the deportees have already applied for the renewal of their visas, and this includes those with temporary SHARP/UNHCR registration. SHARP, Society for Human Rights and Prisoners Aid, works with UNHCR in Pakistan. “Such detentions have separated many families, including women and children, many of whom are still trapped in Pakistan,” it said. Urging the Pakistani government to address Afghanistan’s concerns, the embassy said the matter has been communicated to the concerned Pakistani officials. UNHCR and other human rights organizations have also been appealed for immediate intervention.
From the end of 2023, Afghan people are being sent back to their homeland
From the end of 2023, Pakistan began the process of repatriating Afghan refugees, considering them a burden on its economy. In July 2024, UN Refugee Agency chief Filippo Grandi discussed with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif the situation of Afghan refugees who were in limbo after Pakistan planned to deport ‘undocumented foreigners’. Sharif appealed to the international community to show collective responsibility to solve the problem of the Afghan refugee burden. Also, Pakistan has termed the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), which is affiliated with the Afghan Taliban, as a major threat to the country’s security.
