The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has called a statement by the Embassy of Afghanistan alleging mistreatment of Afghan refugees in Pakistan ‘misplaced’.
A statement from MoFA Spokesman Ambassador Shafqat Ali Khan said that Pakistan has hosted millions of Afghan refugees for decades with ‘respect and dignity’ and any allegations of mistreatment are uncalled for.
“I would like to remind him that Pakistan has hosted millions of Afghans for decades with respect and dignity, while extending traditional hospitality, sharing its resources and services such as education and health, even with very little international support,” Khan said in the statement.
Khan added that Pakistan put mechanisms in place to make sure that no Afghan refugees are harassed during the repatriation process. He added that Pakistan engaged the Afghan government extensively to make sure the process takes place smoothly.
“While Pakistan has done what it could, we expect interim Afghan authorities to create conducive conditions in Afghanistan, so that these returnees are fully integrated in the Afghan society,” the statement added.
The statement came after the Afghan Embassy in Pakistan alleged that Afghan nationals were being subjected to “arrests, searches, and orders from the police to leave the twin cities and relocate to other parts of Pakistan.”
“This process of detaining Afghans, which began without any formal announcement, has not been officially communicated to the Embassy of Afghanistan in Islamabad through any formal correspondence,” the embassy had said on X.
The embassy said no such policy was disclosed and United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) was also unaware of any such decision. However, Pakistani officials ultimately revealed that all refugees including ACC (Afghan Citizen Card) and PoR (Proof of Registration) would be removed from Islamabad and ultimately the country.
“It is worth noting that officials of the Embassy of Afghanistan in Islamabad have expressed serious concerns in meetings with Pakistani authorities and international organizations regarding the mass expulsion of Afghan refugees within such a short timeframe and the unilateral nature of Pakistan’s decision,” the Afghan embassy said, adding that it has asked Kabul to facilitate ‘dignified repatriation’.
However, MoFA dismissed such claims adding that the Afghan government should focus on ensuring that the rights of these refugees are protected when they return home.
“The real test of Afghan authorities would be to ensure that rights of these people about whom the Afghan Cd’A talked are protected in Afghanistan,” MoFA said.
Pakistan announced in 2023 that it would begin deportation illegal aliens who are living in Pakistan without legal documentation including Afghans. However, the repatriation process was later included to include ACC and PoR holders as well. Reports began emerging earlier this year that the government has taken a final decision to remove all Afghan refugees from the capital immediately.
