Pakistan orders Afghan asylum seekers out of country by November
Amidst a surge in hostilities along the shared border of two nations, Islamabad places blame on Afghanistan-based operatives, escalating tensions throughout the year.
These events have ignited discontent in Islamabad, culminating in an announcement on Tuesday regarding a crackdown on "illegal" migrants.
The Taliban-led government has called upon Pakistan to reconsider this move, deeming it "unacceptable."
Afghanistan's authorities have consistently denied offering refuge to militants targeting Pakistan.
Just last week, a devastating explosion rocked a mosque in Mastung city, near the Afghanistan border, claiming the lives of at least 50 individuals during a religious gathering.
The crackdown order on "illegal" Afghans was issued by Pakistan's Interior Minister Sarfraz Bugti on Tuesday, seemingly avoiding direct reference to the recent attacks in Balochistan province or the mosque bombing.
International law upholds the right to seek refuge in foreign lands, a principle Pakistan has upheld for many years, especially since the return of the Taliban to power in Afghanistan in 2021.
Approximately 1.3 million Afghans are registered as refugees, with an additional 880,000 holding legal status to remain, according to the United Nations.
However, Mr. Bugti claimed that 1.7 million people reside "illegally" in the country, referring to those who have not yet obtained refugee status.
He has set a deadline for them to leave the country by month's end, either voluntarily or through forced deportation, though specifics about the operation remain undisclosed.
Additionally, Mr. Bugti introduced a taskforce tasked with identifying and seizing the assets of "illegal" Afghans and their private businesses in Pakistan.
Despite the turmoil, the Taliban government in Kabul has emphasized that Afghan refugees are not responsible for Pakistan's security challenges and urged Pakistan to exhibit tolerance as long as they depart voluntarily.
Nevertheless, authorities have begun apprehending Afghans, regardless of their legal status.
The Afghan embassy reported that over 1,000 Afghans have been detained over the past two weeks.
Balochistan province, situated near Pakistan's border, has frequently experienced attacks by militant groups such as Tehrik-e Taliban Pakistan (TTP), the Pakistani Taliban, and the Islamic State.
Earlier this month, an explosion injured at least 11 people, including a prominent religious leader, in the same district.
Reports have suggested that Islamabad ultimately intends for all Afghans in the country to leave, including those with legal status and Pakistani residence cards, though these claims are based on government sources.
Mr. Bugti highlighted 24 suicide bombings along Pakistan's border since January, with more than half attributed to militants operating from Afghanistan.
To bolster border security, Pakistan has announced stricter entry restrictions for Afghans, effective from November 1. Only visitors with visas and passports will be permitted entry, marking a departure from the previous practice of accepting Afghan national identity cards as valid travel documents.
However, there is currently a significant backlog of Afghans seeking the necessary documents to enter Pakistan, turning the visa and passport application process into a months-long ordeal.
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