ISLAMABAD, Pakistan — Pakistan has called on host countries to accelerate the resettlement of thousands of Afghan nationals stranded in the country, warning they may face expulsion if not relocated by April 30, according to a report by the Associated Press.
Talal Chaudhry, Pakistan’s deputy interior minister, announced on Thursday that Islamabad is unlikely to extend the deadline it had previously communicated to Western governments. The warning comes amid the suspension of the U.S. refugee admissions program, a move that has left more than 25,000 Afghans in limbo.
Many of those at risk had fled Afghanistan following the Taliban’s return to power in August 2021. They include former employees of U.S. military missions, international organizations, humanitarian agencies, and media outlets, who have been awaiting resettlement in the United States or other Western nations.
“These Afghan nationals were meant to be in transit,” Mr. Chaudhry said. “It is now the responsibility of host countries to fulfill their commitments.”
The looming deadline has deepened anxiety among Afghan evacuees and sparked fresh appeals from human rights groups urging host nations to expedite resettlement efforts. Advocates warn that failure to act swiftly could expose vulnerable individuals — including women, journalists and human rights activists — to renewed threats or displacement.
