RASC News Agency: The UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) has announced that Pakistan has temporarily suspended the deportation of undocumented Afghanistani refugees. This suspension follows a recent decision made after a meeting between UNHCR Chief Filippo Grandi and Pakistani officials. The UN appreciates this move and seeks assurances for its continuation.
Previously, Grandi mentioned Pakistan’s commitment to supporting refugees. According to Voice of America, a senior Pakistani official confirmed the halt but did not specify its duration. The official emphasized that the international community must share the responsibility of hosting and repatriating Afghanistani refugees.
Pakistani and UN officials cited humanitarian concerns and the dire economic and human conditions in Afghanistan as reasons for the suspension. During his visit, Grandi met with Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and other senior officials to discuss the fate of around three million Afghanistani refugees in Pakistan. In November last year, Pakistan began cracking down on all illegal foreign residents, primarily targeting over one million undocumented Afghanistani refugees, citing a surge in militant attacks linked to individuals within the refugee population.
The suspension provides a temporary reprieve for the refugees but underscores the need for a comprehensive, long-term solution. It is noteworthy that Pakistan has supported Afghanistani refugees for nearly forty years while exploiting them in various ways.
