Pakistan Steps Up Afghan National Deportations
(MENAFN) This month, Pakistan has deported over 19,500 Afghan nationals, with the United Nations forecasting that an additional 80,000 could be expelled before the April 30 deadline.
The government is intensifying its efforts to remove undocumented Afghans and those with temporary stay permits, citing difficulties in managing the increasing population. Taliban officials report that between 700 and 800 families are being deported daily, with projections suggesting that up to two million more individuals may be compelled to leave in the coming months.
During a recent visit to Kabul, Pakistani Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar held discussions with Taliban officials, where his counterpart, Amir Khan Muttaqi, voiced "deep concern" over the ongoing deportations.
At the border, some deportees shared that they were born in Pakistan after their families fled conflict. The UN estimates that more than 3.5 million Afghans currently reside in Pakistan, including approximately 700,000 who arrived after the Taliban's takeover in 2021, with half of them lacking proper documentation.
While Pakistan has historically been a haven for Afghan migrants, the government now cites national security issues and the strain on public services as justifications for the surge in deportations.
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