On Tuesday, the UN and its partners united to issue a fresh appeal, imploring nations to immediately halt the deportation of Afghan citizens in large numbers. This appeal is motivated by the growing humanitarian situation in Afghanistan, which is made worse by the arrival of a severe winter. The appeal follows reports that over the last two months, Pakistan and Iran have together deported over 500,000 Afghans, with the number of those deported continuously increasing.
Unprecedented Migration Out of Pakistan
A startling statistic was disclosed on Tuesday by the International Organization for Migration (IOM): nearly 375,000 Afghans have returned home from Pakistan by way of the border crossings at Torkham and Spin Boldak. The fact that the de facto Afghan Taliban authorities independently stated an additional 400,000 returnees from their neighboring country further compounded the severity of the situation.
This large increase in refugees can be directly attributed to a stringent order from the Pakistani government that required all foreign nationals without documentation—roughly 1.7 million Afghans—to leave the nation by November 1 under threat of being forcibly deported.
Worsening Situations and Growing Crises
Following the directive from the Pakistani government, the International Organization for Migration (IOM) documented an astounding increase in the number of daily border crossings, from 200 to a startling 17,000 or more. Maria Moita, the head of the IOM Afghanistan mission, emphasized the terrible situation that those who were returning were in, stating that a large number of them were compelled to leave their homes behind, along with their possessions and savings.
Moita underlined the desperate need for immediate assistance at the border while highlighting the returnees’ vulnerability. She also emphasized the significance of long-term support in the return areas, acknowledging that the developing crisis requires financial resources as soon as possible. Moita stressed that these funds are essential to guaranteeing the impacted Afghan population, who are suffering from the severe consequences of the mass deportations, a safe and decent return.
International Response and Crucial Assistance
The UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) representative in Pakistan, Philippa Candler, expressed concerns on Tuesday, saying that the current humanitarian crisis in Afghanistan is being made worse by the large-scale arrivals.
With some areas already experiencing winter temperatures as low as -4°C, Candler emphasized the urgent need for vital assistance, such as housing, basic supplies for the household, and medical attention. With funding for the people in Afghanistan rapidly running out, both the UNHCR and IOM are pleading with the international community to increase support.
Pakistan’s Defense for Deportation
Pakistan defends its deportation policy in the face of growing criticism, blaming the crackdown on Afghans living illegally who were allegedly involved in recent terrorist attacks in Pakistan. According to official data from Pakistan, only 16% of Afghans are deported, indicating that the majority of their returns are voluntary. Afghanistan’s Taliban government opposes these evictions and wants them to stop. However, Islamabad dismisses the criticism, stating that the focus of the crackdown is on foreign nationals who are either overstaying their visas or are residing illegally.
Officials clarified that the current crackdown does not apply to the 1.4 million legal Afghan refugees who have “proof of registration” cards. These individuals’ status as legal residents has been extended by the government until December 31. Additionally, the deportation plan does not apply to the over 800,000 Afghan migrants who have their Afghan citizenship cards approved by the IOM and were registered by the Pakistani government in cooperation with the former Afghan government.
