Pakistan issues stark warning to Afghan refugees awaiting US relocation: Process swiftly or face deportation.
It’s not just the U.S. getting tired of it all.
At a Glance
- Pakistan threatens to deport Afghan nationals if US relocation cases aren’t processed by September
- Approximately 15,000 Afghans in Pakistan await relocation to the US
- Over 825,000 undocumented Afghan refugees have been repatriated since September 2023
- March 31 deadline set for US and other countries to process Afghan resettlement cases
- Pakistan open to negotiations with US to resolve the issue
Pakistan’s Ultimatum to Afghan Refugees
Pakistan has issued a stern warning to those awaiting relocation to the United States: if your case isn’t processed soon, you’re out.
Per Pakistani Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar, Afghan nationals whose cases are not processed or are rejected by the US will face deportation back to Afghanistan.
The US has promised to relocate Afghan nationals from Pakistan by September, but the timeline remains uncertain. Dar stated, “tentatively around September this year,” when referring to the expected relocation date. However, he made it clear that if the process is not completed or if individuals are rejected, they will be considered illegal immigrants in Pakistan.
“If any refugee who was undertaken to be taken by another country after due process —no matter the timeline — if it doesn’t happen and the country refuses, then for us, that will be an illegal immigrant in Pakistan, and we might be forced to send such refugee back to [their] original country, which is Afghanistan,” Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar also said.
So, what happened?
The situation has been exacerbated by recent US policy changes. During his second term as President, Donald Trump halted refugee applications and travel plans, affecting approximately 45,000 Afghans in Afghanistan and 15,000 in Pakistan. These individuals, who fled Afghanistan following the Taliban’s return to power in 2021, now find themselves in a precarious position, fearing retribution for their past affiliations with US and NATO forces.
While about 80,000 Afghans have been successfully relocated from Pakistan, around 40,000 remain, including the 15,000 destined for the US.
Pakistan’s stance on Afghan refugees has hardened significantly in recent months as a result. Since September 2023, the country has repatriated over 825,000 undocumented Afghan refugees. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has taken a firm stance, ordering the removal of all Afghans from Islamabad and Rawalpindi by February 28, with deportations to follow.
This crackdown targets a population of over 2.5 million Afghans, including lawful refugees, documented migrants, and those without legal authorization. The government’s actions have raised concerns among human rights organizations and the international community about the welfare of these vulnerable individuals.
With March 31 set as the deadline for the US and other countries to process Afghan resettlement cases, a race against time has begun.
