Kabul
Concerns have been raised by Afghan migrants in Pakistan as the second phase of their expulsion draws nearer, according to sources. Pakistani government has urged even documented Afghan migrants to return to Afghanistan soon. Taliban-led Ministry of Refugees and Repatriations has discussed setting up a joint mechanism with Pakistan’s deputy ambassador. They aim to address the challenges faced by Afghan migrants in Pakistan. Taliban spokesperson Abdul Mutalib Haqqani stated that Pakistan denied setting a deadline for expulsion.
However, migrant rights activists criticize Pakistan’s actions, calling them contrary to human rights conventions. Amnesty International has called for the cancellation of the expulsion plan. The Taliban has urged Pakistan to resolve the issue bilaterally. Pakistan plans to start the second phase of expulsion on April 10, having already expelled over 535,000 migrants since November. The first phase began last November, targeting undocumented migrants. Both human rights organizations and the Taliban have criticized Pakistan’s actions. However, Pakistan maintains it’s not targeting any specific ethnic community.
