Pakistan directs Afghan asylum seekers to leave before November, order triggers criticisms

The direction was given by the Pakistani government after a spike in terror activities was reported from the border region of the two countries in recent times.

Pakistan has blamed border crossing attacks on Afghanistan-based operatives - charges denied by the Taliban regime, reports BBC.

Pakistan had taken a large number of Afghanistani refugees in 2021 after the former government fell following the return of Taliban in Kabul.

As per UN figures, around 1.3 million Afghanistan refugees are present in Pakistan and 880,000 more have legal status to remain in the country.

However, Caretaker Interior Minister Sarfraz Bugti was quoted as saying by Dawn News that a further 1.7 million Afghans were in Pakistan illegally.

The announcement prompted a robust response from the Afgha­nistan Embassy in Islamabad, which accused Punjab and Sindh police of conducting a ‘ruthless’ operation against Afghan refugees, without distinguishing between genders and even arresting women and children, reports Dawn News.

Amnesty International South Asia criticised the move and posted on X: "Many Afghans living in fear of persecution by the Taliban had fled to Pakistan, where they have been subjected to waves of arbitrary detentions, arrests, and the threat of deportation. It is deeply concerning that the situation of Afghan refugees in Pakistan is not receiving due international attention.'

Terming the developments as a dark chapter in the relationship between the two countries, former senator Afrasiab Khattak wrote: "After imposing Taliban on Afg, Pak security state is dealing Afghans like a vanquished people. Afghan refugees are its particular target. The intense hatred being sown today will breed animosity which will be reaped by many generations. The darkest chapter of Pak Afghan policy."

Social worker and activist Meena Gabeena highlighted that the Pakistani government's policy will directly affect the Hazara community and wrote on X: "There are children among them,specially Hazara children, there are girls among them who have stories of being raped, tortured by the Taliban only for having a Hazara face. These stories are real. If you try hearing the 'illegal immigrants' also known as innocent ppl, you’ll know!"