Pakistan to launch phase 2 of forced deportation of Afghans

Islamabad is expected to start the second phase of forced deportations of Afghan refugees from Monday, April 15.

According to reports this phase will also include the deportation of Afghans who have residency permits.

This will apply to refugees who have ACC documents, Afghan citizenship card, and POR or certificate of registration with the government of Pakistan.

Officials have said this applies to about 850,000 Afghans – many of whom have lived in Pakistan for decades.

According to the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, after August 2021, more than 600,000 Afghans fled to Pakistan.

The Afghan caretaker government and UN agencies estimate that more than half a million people have been deported from Pakistan or voluntarily returned to Afghanistan in less than six months.

The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees said last month that nearly two million Afghan refugees are living in Pakistan and that the agency needs $368 million this year to assist these people.