&w=3840&q=100)
Pakistan forcibly expels 1.4 million Afghan refugees despite humanitarian concerns from UNHCR
Afghan refugee children play next to trucks loaded with their family's belongings as they wait to return Afghanistan along a highway in Landi Kotal, Pakistan. File image/AP
Pakistan resumes forced expulsions of 1.4 million Afghan refugees despite UN concerns
Pakistani authorities stated Monday that they had resumed the forcible deportations of Afghan refugees following the federal government's refusal to extend a crucial deadline for their stay.
About 1.4 million Afghans with Proof of Registration cards whose legal status expired at the end of June are impacted by the decision. Before going back to Afghanistan, many had hoped for a one-year extension to take care of personal matters like selling property or closing up businesses.
STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD
Approximately 800,000 Afghans own Afghan Citizen Cards in addition to PoR cards. According to the police, they are also unlawfully residing in the nation and are being held in the southern Sindh province, southwestern Balochistan, and eastern Punjab before being deported.
The UN refugee agency, the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, criticised Monday's decision.
At least 1.2 million Afghans have been forced to return from Iran and Pakistan this year, according to a June UNHCR report. Repatriations on such a massive scale have the potential to destabilize the fragile situation in Afghanistan, where the Taliban government came into power in 2021.
A July 31 government notification seen by The Associated Press confirms Pakistan's decision to repatriate all Afghan nationals holding expired PoR cards. It states Afghans without valid passports and Pakistani visas are in the country illegally and must return to their homeland under Pakistani immigration laws.
Police across Pakistan are detaining Afghans to transport them to border crossings, according to two government and security officials who spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to speak publicly.
They said there are no mass arrests and police were told to go to house-to-house and make random checks to detain foreigners living in the country illegally.
STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD
'Yes, the Afghan refugees living in Pakistan illegally are being sent back in a dignified way,' said Shakeel Khan, commissioner for Afghan refugees in the northwestern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province.
The latest operation is the most significant step yet under orders from federal government in Islamabad, he said.
Rehmat Ullah, 35, an Afghan, said his family migrated to Pakistan's northwestern Peshawar city decades ago and now is preparing to return home.
'I have five children and my concern is that they will miss their education,' he said. 'I was born here, my children were born here and now we are going back,' he said.
Millions have fled to Pakistan over the past four decades to escape war, political unrest and economic hardship. The renewed deportation drive follows a nationwide crackdown launched in 2023 targeting foreigners living illegally in Pakistan.
The Interior Ministry, which oversees the campaign, did not immediately comment.
Qaiser Khan Afridi, a spokesperson for the UN refugee agency, expressed deep concern over the government's recent actions.
STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD
'Sending people back in this manner is tantamount to refoulement and a breach of a state's international obligations,' Afridi said in a statement, urging Pakistan to adopt a 'humane approach to ensure voluntary, gradual, and dignified return of Afghans' and praised the country for hosting millions of Afghan refugees for more than 40 years.
'We call on the government to halt the forcible return and ensure a gradual, voluntary and dignified repatriation process,' Afridi said. 'Such massive and hasty return could jeopardize the lives and freedom of Afghan refugees, while also risking instability not only in Afghanistan but across the region.'
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Economic Times
26 minutes ago
- Economic Times
Security agencies say they have evidence confirming Pakistani nationality of Pahalgam attackers
In a major development in the Pahalgam terror attack probe, security agencies have gathered evidence, including official documents from Pakistan and biometric data, confirming that the three slain terrorists involved in the horrific incident were Pakistani nationals, officials said here on Monday. The three senior Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) commanders, who were killed in a July 28 encounter code-named 'Operation Mahadev' on the outskirts of Srinagar, had been hiding in the Dachigam-Harwan forest belt since the April 22 attack, the officials said. The terror attack in Pahalgam's Baisaran meadow had claimed 26 lives, mainly tourists. The officials also sought to clarify that no local youths were involved in the shooting during the attack. The evidence collected by security agencies leaves no doubt about the terrorists' nationality, with the Union Home Minister Amit Shah detailing key findings in Parliament. Forensic, documentary and testimonial evidence collected during and after 'Operation Mahadev' conclusively shows that all three attackers were Pakistani nationals and hardcore terrorists of the banned Lashkar-e-Taiba who had been hiding in the Dachigam-Harwan forest belt since the day of the attack, the officials said. The slain terrorists were identified as Suleman Shah alias "Faizal Jatt", an A++ category terrorist, mastermind and lead shooter; his close associate Abu Hamza alias 'Afghan', an A-grade commander and the second gunman; and Yasir alias 'Jibran', also an A-grade commander and the third gunman, the officials said. Biometric records of Pakistan's National Database and Registration Authority (NADRA), voter identity slips and digital satellite phone data, including logs and GPS waypoints, are among the evidence gathered by the security agencies confirming the Pakistani nationality of the three terrorists, the officials said. A micro-SD chip recovered from a damaged satellite phone contained Pakistan's NADRA biometric records -- including fingerprints, facial templates, and family trees -- confirming their citizenship and addresses in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK). The shell casings found at the Pahalgam attack site were a 100 per cent ballistic match with the three rifles seized from the terrorists after their encounter. Pakistani-manufactured items, including wrappers for 'CandyLand' and 'ChocoMax' chocolates (brands produced in Karachi), were found in their rucksacks. The lot numbers on these wrappers were traced to a May 2024 consignment shipped to PoK. The terrorists crossed the Line of Control (LoC) through north Kashmir's Gurez sector in May 2022, when the intelligence intercepts placed their radio check-in from the Pakistani side, the officials said. On April 21, they moved into a 'dhok' (seasonal hut) at Hill Park, 2 km from Baisaran, as was stated by two detained helpers, Parvaiz and Bashir Ahmad Jothar, who sheltered them overnight and provided them cooked food before they trekked to Baisaran the next day to carry out the attack. The GPS waypoints recovered from Shah's Garmin device match the exact firing positions reported by eyewitnesses, the officials said, adding that they escaped towards Dachigam after carrying out the attack. On digital footprints, they said a Huawei satellite phone (IMEI 86761204-XXXXXX) used by the terrorists had been pinging Inmarsat-4 F1 every night between April 22 and July 25. Triangulation narrowed the search grid to four square kilometres inside Harwan forest. Jammu and Kashmir Police had released sketches of three people -- Hashim Musa, Ali Bhai alias "Talha", and local Adil Hussain Thoker -- on April 24. However, after the July 28 encounter, the agencies clarified that those sketches were based on a photograph found on a phone retrieved from an unrelated December 2024 shootout and the actual attackers were different. Another crucial evidence of Pakistan's involvement in the attack was the command and control links inside the neighbouring country, the officials said. They said LeT's south-Kashmir operations chief, Sajid Saifullah Jatt of Changa Manga in Lahore, was the overall handler as his voice samples from the recovered sat-phone matched his earlier intercepted calls. LeT Rawalakot chief Rizwan Anees also visited the families of the slain attackers on July 29 to organise 'Ghaibana Namaz-e-Janaza' (funeral prayers in absentia) and its footage is now part of the Indian dossier, they said. Statements from two arrested local helpers, Parvaiz and Bashir Ahmad Jothar, corroborated the terrorists' movements and confirmed they had sheltered them before the attack. The Union Home Minister, immediately after the 'Operation Mahadev', gave a statement that the intelligence trail for the terrorists began with a "human intelligence" alert leading to a meticulous tracking operation. The operation was spearheaded by the Army's elite 'Para 4' unit, working alongside the CRPF and the Jammu and Kashmir Police. To confirm the ballistic evidence, the rifles were flown to Chandigarh on a special flight, the Home Minister said, adding six forensic scientists confirmed the 100 per cent match via video call just hours later, underscoring the urgency and precision of the investigation. The Home Minister's speech also unveiled the details of 'Operation Sindoor,' a retaliatory strike carried out inside Pakistan in response to the Pahalgam attack. The investigation into the Pahalgam attack, handled by the NIA, was massive in scale, involving statements from over 1,055 people and more than 3,000 hours of interrogation.
&w=3840&q=100)
First Post
26 minutes ago
- First Post
Bangladesh struggles with reform and stability a year after Sheikh Hasina's exit
One year after the removal of Sheikh Hasina, Bangladesh's interim government led by Muhammad Yunus continues to face political deadlock, religious polarization, and criticism over stalled reforms and delayed elections, as the country navigates an uncertain democratic transition. read more Protesters celebrate at the Parliament House premise after news of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's resignation, in Dhaka, Bangladesh. File image/AP Bangladesh appeared poised for change last year when former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina was removed from office following a student-led protest movement, ending her 15-year rule and prompting her to flee to India. Nobel Peace Prize laureate Muhammad Yunus assumed leadership of an interim government, pledging to restore calm, implement electoral and constitutional reforms, and conduct credible elections after weeks of unrest beginning on July 15, 2024, left hundreds dead. One year later, the interim government continues to face political instability, religious polarization, and ongoing challenges in maintaining law and order. Hasina is currently on trial for crimes against humanity in absentia while in exile in India. Despite significant upheaval, efforts to build a Bangladesh founded on liberal democracy, political tolerance, and communal harmony have yet to succeed. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD 'The hope of the thousands who braved lethal violence a year ago when they opposed Sheikh Hasina's abusive rule to build a rights-respecting democracy remains unfulfilled,' said Meenakshi Ganguly, deputy Asia director at Human Rights Watch, a New York-based human rights organization. Change remains limited The anti-government movement resulted in significant casualties. Hundreds, including many students, were killed in demonstrations marked by violent clashes. Protesters set fire to police stations and government offices, while confrontations between rival political groups turned deadly. Abdur Rahman Tarif and his sister Meherunnesa joined the protests after the death of a cousin allegedly shot by security forces. He recalled being on the phone with Meherunnesa when the line went dead. Upon returning home through conflict-hit areas in Dhaka, he learned that she had been struck by a stray bullet while standing near a window. She later died at the hospital. Following the transition, the Yunus administration established 11 reform commissions, including one focused on building national consensus with political parties to guide governance and electoral reforms. Progress, however, has been slow. Political disputes have delayed agreement on an election timetable. Mob violence, attacks on political groups, and increased hostility toward women and minorities have been reported. While rights groups note that enforced disappearances appear to have ended, they allege the government has used arbitrary detention to target perceived opponents, particularly Hasina's supporters, some of whom are reportedly in hiding. The Awami League, currently banned, claims over two dozen members have died in custody over the past year. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD The interim administration has declared August 5 a public holiday to mark Hasina's ouster. In a statement on July 30, Human Rights Watch said the interim government 'is falling short in implementing its challenging human rights agenda,' adding that abuses against ethnic and minority groups continue in some regions. 'The interim government appears stuck, juggling an unreformed security sector, sometimes violent religious hardliners, and political groups that seem more focused on extracting vengeance on Hasina's supporters than protecting Bangladeshis' rights,' said Ganguly. Yunus' office has denied these allegations. Elections expected in April The timeline for returning to democratic elections remains uncertain. Disagreements between the interim administration and the main opposition, the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), have added to the uncertainty. The BNP has demanded elections be held by February, while Yunus has proposed April. Islamist groups previously restricted under Hasina's rule have gained space under the interim government. Meanwhile, student leaders from the protests have formed a new political party, calling for sweeping reforms and warning they will oppose any election held without them. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Some Islamist leaders have either been released or escaped custody. Jamaat-e-Islami, the largest Islamist party, has reentered the political scene and recently organized a large rally in Dhaka. The group has criticized both the BNP and Awami League, prompting concern among some analysts about rising polarization. 'Any rise of Islamists demonstrates a future Bangladesh where radicalization could get a shape where so-called disciplined Islamist forces could work as a catalyst against liberal and moderate forces,' said political analyst Nazmul Ahsan Kalimullah. Others have questioned whether the interim government can deliver the reforms it promised. 'People's expectation was (that) Yunus government will be focused and solely geared towards reforming the electoral process. But now it's a missed opportunity for them,' Kalimullah added. Ongoing frustration For many, the events of the past year have not translated into meaningful change. Mosharraf Hossain, father of protester Meherunnesa, said the movement reflected deeper discontent. 'We want a new Bangladesh … It's been 54 years since independence, yet freedom was not achieved,' he said. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Tarif echoed the sentiment. 'I want to see the new Bangladesh as a place where I feel secure, where the law enforcement agencies will perform their duties properly, and no government will resort to enforced disappearances or killings like before. I want to have the right to speak freely,' he said.
News18
an hour ago
- News18
Pakistan Sets Sights On Moon, Hopes China Can Give It A Lift By 2035
Last Updated: Pakistan's Space and Upper Atmosphere Research Commission (SUPARCO) will oversee the lunar exploration mission as Islamabad deepens its reliance on Chinese assistance. Pakistan is gearing up to land its first spacecraft on the Moon by 2035 with the help of its all-weather friend China, despite starting its space research programme almost a decade before India, which successfully accomplished the task in 2023. During a meeting with Chinese officials, Pakistan's Minister for Planning, Development and Special Initiatives, Ahsan Iqbal, called for deeper reliance on China to fill gaps in Pakistan's space and nuclear programmes, according to Geo News. Pakistan's Space and Upper Atmosphere Research Commission (SUPARCO) has been tasked with overseeing the lunar exploration mission. SUPARCO is yet to launch a satellite or space mission on its own to space. Pakistan's Dependence On China Iqbal said Pakistan would create and attach a 35-kg lunar rover to China's Chang'e-8 mission in 2028 to explore the Moon's South Pole. The rover will conduct scientific experiments, analyse terrain, and assess resource utilisation. The meeting also included Head of China's Atomic Energy Authority and Space Agency, Shan Zhongde. The discussion largely highlighted Pakistan's growing dependence on Chinese technology and expertise. Iqbal claimed that the country's Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has reinvigorated the country's stagnant space science sector through the 'Uraan Pakistan" initiative. He also said three Pakistani-made satellites were launched recently with China's assistance, and Islamabad aims to send its first astronaut to space by 2026 by relying again on China's space station, clearly lacking independent capability. Pakistan's Problems Notably, the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) has made significant strides in space exploration compared to its neighbour, with notable success with its lunar mission, Chandrayaan, in 2023, and its Mars mission, Mangalyaan. India is now also on its way to its first manned mission in space, Gaganyaan, scheduled for the first quarter of early 2027. On the other hand, Pakistan has been struggling with the rise of terrorist attacks, basic infrastructure and economic instability. The SUPARCO has been impeded by limited government spending and leadership issues, with retired army generals heading the agency for the past 11 years. Pakistan relies heavily on China for satellite launches and development, limiting its indigenous capabilities. The battered country has sought more Chinese help in nuclear power and quantum computing amid a domestic resource crunch. Meanwhile, the Pakistani government once again failed to meet its financial obligations under CPEC, with overdue payments to Chinese power producers soaring to PKR 423 billion by June 2025, according to The Express Tribune. (with ANI inputs) Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
