The Pakistani government has issued a directive mandating approximately 1.7 million unauthorised Afghan asylum seekers to leave the country by the end of November. This move comes as Pakistan grapples with escalating tensions exacerbated by a surge in militant attacks along the shared border with Afghanistan. The Pakistani authorities have accused Afghanistan-based operatives of orchestrating these attacks, allegations that have been vehemently denied by the Taliban regime.
The recent tragic incident at a mosque in Mastung city, near the Afghan border, claimed the lives of at least 50 people during a religious celebration. However, the government did not explicitly reference this incident in their announcement.
Pakistan has a history of absorbing Afghan refugees, especially since the Taliban regained power in Afghanistan in 2021. According to the United Nations, approximately 1.3 million Afghans are registered as refugees, and an additional 880,000 have acquired legal status to remain in Pakistan. However, the government has identified 1.7 million individuals in the country as being “illegally” present, referring to those who have not yet attained refugee status.
Pakistan’s Interior Minister, Sarfraz Bugti, declared that these individuals must leave the country by the end of the month, either voluntarily or through forced deportation. He stated that law enforcement agencies would be mobilised if they failed to comply, although specific details about the operation were not provided. Additionally, a task force has been established to identify and seize private businesses and assets belonging to unauthorised Afghan residents.
In response, Afghan officials in Pakistan reported that local authorities have already begun detaining Afghans, both those with legal status and those without. Pakistan’s Balochistan province, situated near the border, has frequently experienced attacks from armed groups such as Tehrik-e Taliban Pakistan (TTP) and the Islamic State militant group.
Minister Bugti cited 24 suicide bombings along Pakistan’s border since January, blaming more than half of these incidents on militants operating from Afghanistan. Consequently, Pakistan announced stricter restrictions on Afghans entering the country starting from November 1, permitting only individuals with visas and passports to cross the border. Previously, Afghans used their national identity cards for travel, leading to a backlog of applications for entry documents. Obtaining visas and passports has become a protracted process, hindering the movement of Afghan nationals into Pakistan.
This directive has raised concerns among humanitarian organisations, as international law upholds the right to seek refuge in foreign countries. The situation is evolving rapidly, and the international community is closely monitoring developments in the region.
Kiki Garba.
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