The Pakistani government has initiated the second phase of deportations, with the aim of expelling one million undocumented immigrants within the next two months, according to Balochistan Information Minister Jan Achakzai.
Achakzai declared the commencement of this deportation drive, emphasizing the government’s heightened efforts in addressing the issue of undocumented migrants.
Pakistani authorities said that at least 2,600 undocumented Afghan migrants were repatriated to Afghanistan on Wednesday, Nov. 22.
Figures from the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) indicate that nearly 400,000 migrants have either been deported or voluntarily returned to Afghanistan since October 1.
Karachi, a city in Pakistan, is home to tens of thousands of Afghans. In the immigrant settlements, the police, in collaboration with the National Database and Registration Authority (NADRA) employees, are conducting house-to-house inspections to identify undocumented immigrants.
“The government has implemented a policy of house-to-house inspection and search, wherein the police and other relevant institutions verify the identity cards of every migrant,” stated Achakzai.
Simultaneously, the UNHCR has reiterated its plea to Pakistan, urging the country to halt deportations during the cold winter season.
Babar Baloch, the spokesperson for the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, said that “the government of Pakistan must stop the return of migrants in this harsh winter season.”
In contrast, Amnesty International has raised concerns about the plight of women’s rights activists in Afghanistan’s neighboring countries. The organization noted that women’s rights activists who fled the Taliban are currently facing persecution and the imminent risk of returning to Afghanistan.
Amnesty International has initiated a campaign advocating for women’s rights and has urged the French government to permit the entry of women who sought refuge in neighboring countries into France.
