Pakistan rejects UN calls and confirms the continuation of the deportation of Afghan refugees
Pakistan has officially announced its rejection of international calls to halt plans to deport Afghan refugees, confirming that the decision to proceed with this process is non-negotiable.
This announcement came despite repeated warnings from UN officials about the humanitarian risks involved, especially following the devastating earthquake that struck Afghanistan's Kunar province, causing the displacement of thousands of residents.
The spokesperson for the Pakistani Foreign Ministry, Shafqat Ali Khan, stated to reporters that "the repatriation policy has not changed, and there will be no 'suspension' of the process," according to Afghan news agency Khaama Press on Saturday.
The UN High Commissioner for Refugees, Filippo Grandi, had previously urged Islamabad to stop deportation operations, "pointing to the devastating earthquake that struck Afghanistan's Kunar province, which resulted in the displacement of thousands."
He was joined in this call by Richard Bennett, the UN Special Rapporteur on human rights in Afghanistan, who warned of "the implications of a serious humanitarian crisis on vulnerable families" and called for a postponement of the expulsions.
In response to these demands, the Pakistani Foreign Ministry reaffirmed its firm stance, noting that "while deportations will continue, the country maintains a 'flexible liberal visa policy' for Afghans seeking to enter legally."
It is worth mentioning that Pakistani authorities had previously set "September 1 as a deadline for undocumented Afghan refugees and those whose temporary residence permits have expired to leave the country voluntarily."
