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A crackdown on illegal Afghan nationals in Pakistan is increasing, and on November 17, over 7849 migrants were expelled in a single day. It is a mass expulsion as claimed by the Taliban refugee commission, which falls under the wider campaign by Islamabad to get rid of Afghans with no legal papers. The relations between the Taliban and Pakistan have become tense in recent months, which has led to more stringent instructions by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif. With the increasing number of deportations by both Pakistan and Iran, there is an increasing concern about the humanitarian effects on Afghanistan, which is struggling with the lack of resources, deteriorating economy, and political segregation under the Taliban government. Stay informed on global justice. Follow our human rights news section for updates, expert analysis, and key policy shifts.
The Deportation Drive heats up in Pakistan
Figures published by the Taliban refugee commission showed that 7849 Afghan migrants had been deported by Pakistan on Monday, the highest number of deportations in one day seen in recent months. The migrants were sent back through the major points of crossing the border, Torkham and Spin Boldak. Another 382 Afghan nationals were also deported by Iran on the same day using the Islam Qala and Silk Bridge checkpoints.
The influx is based on new directives announced by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif earlier this month, which ordered the officials to increase the crackdown on the undocumented population. There have been massive arrests, and Pakistani police have been transferring scores of Afghans to temporary holding centers to be expelled.
Pakistan had deported 7,744 Afghans on November 16, thousands having been forcibly taken out of such cities as the Faisal Town of Islamabad and Rawalpindi. The human rights organizations have sounded warning bells about the breach of due process, the deplorable conditions in the detention camps, and the inability of migrants to have time to pack up before going.
Humanitarian Issues and Local Effect
Human rights groups around the world have criticized the mass deportations, threatening that they would worsen the already weak humanitarian conditions in Afghanistan. A lot of returnees come back with a small number of things, a lack of stable accommodation opportunities, and a lack of regular financial assistance.
The capacity of Afghanistan to accommodate this influx is still not good. The nation is in a dire economic state with few job opportunities and food insecurity, which exposes thousands of returning citizens to danger. Aid organizations are worried that the twofold pressure of deportations by Pakistan and Iran can drown the local societies and humanitarian initiatives that are already operating to maximum capacity.
The Taliban-based government has encouraged Pakistan and Iran to rethink the mass expulsions, saying that sudden returns strain the provinces along the borders. But as diplomatic tensions escalate and security considerations become the main force behind the policies of Islamabad, we are likely to see more mass deportations.
