PAKISTAN TO DEPORT OVER A MILLION AFGHAN REFUGEES

Fri 29 September 2023:

Pakistan’s caretaker government has decided to send back all Afghan refugees living in the country illegally.

According to local media reports, this involves an estimated 1.1 million Afghans.

Pakistan government says almost one million Afghans have fled to Pakistan in the past two years, adding to millions more that have lived in the neighboring country for years.

According to media reports, the decision to expel illegal Afghan refugees comes amid a crackdown against terrorism, currency smuggling, and the illegal trade of sugar and fertilizer.

Sources said that the plan to deport more than 1.1 million Afghan refugees has been approved by the federal cabinet through the Interior Ministry.

Reports also indicate that Pakistan’s ministry of interior has collaborated with all relevant stakeholders, including the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan (IEA) regarding their plan.

Pakistan’s police have been conducting a crackdown over the past few months against Afghan migrants. Hundreds have been arrested, with many of them already having been sent home.

In the most recent incidents, Karachi police claimed to have arrested at least 293 Afghan nationals for staying in the metropolis without valid travel documents.

In a statement, the police said several raids were carried out between September 9 to 12, wherein at least 253 illegal Afghan immigrants were taken into custody.

Sharing details of the actions, they said police stations of Quaidabad, Shah Latif, Malir City and Sukhan arrested 37 Afghan nationals.

Meanwhile, 68 immigrants were arrested from Korangi district and 49 from Kemari district. Separately, 91 Afghan citizens were arrested from Gulshan Iqbal, Shahrah Faisal, Sohrab Goth and other areas.

NEWS AGENCIES

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