Synopsis
Pakistan has amplified security at an Afghan refugee detention centre in Rawalpindi as the deadline for voluntary departure approaches. Afghans with legal documentation must leave by March 31, or face detention. Advocacy groups are calling for an end to these actions, highlighting the distressing situation of Afghan refugees in the country.Key Takeaways
- Rawalpindi authorities have increased security at the Afghan refugee detention centre.
- A deadline of March 31 has been set for Afghans with legal documents to leave.
- 820 Afghan nationals were detained last week, with some deportations halted.
- JAC for Refugees has condemned the arrests and detentions.
- Human rights organizations are advocating against forced deportation of Afghan migrants.
Rawalpindi, March 14 (NationPress) Pakistan has enhanced security measures around a detention centre for Afghan refugees located in Rawalpindi, as the initiative to apprehend Afghan refugees within the country persists. The Pakistani authorities have established a deadline of March 31 for Afghans possessing legal documentation to exit the country voluntarily, while the detention of Afghan refugees in Rawalpindi and Islamabad continues, according to local media reports.
The Afghan individuals currently detained in Rawalpindi are held at a facility near Golra Mor. In the past week, the Rawalpindi Police have apprehended approximately 820 Afghan nationals from various locations within the garrison city, with 114 having been deported thus far. Currently, 140 Afghan nationals remain in custody at the camp under strict security due to a pause in deportations. Reports from Pakistan’s prominent newspaper Dawn indicate that the closure of the border in recent days has halted the deportation process.
Authorities have instructed refugees to vacate Pakistan by March 31, which is the designated deadline for voluntary departure. Any illegal foreigners discovered in the district will be apprehended and sent back to their countries of origin. An official quoted by the newspaper confirmed that all legal Afghan nationals would be relocated from Rawalpindi-Islamabad after the deadline.
Recently, the Joint Action Committee (JAC) for Refugees in Pakistan, an advocacy group based in Karachi and Islamabad dedicated to the rights of Afghan Refugees, issued a statement calling for an end to the arrests, wrongful detentions, and harassment of Afghan refugees in Islamabad and Rawalpindi.
JAC has accused police stations in Pakistan of being instructed to detain all refugees, regardless of whether they hold a Proof of Registration (PoR), an Afghan Citizen Card (ACC), or a valid visa, despite the government’s March 31 deadline. They condemned this action as a severe breach of fundamental rights.
Earlier this month, a coalition of human rights organizations and refugee advocacy groups penned an open letter to the Pakistani government, urging an immediate halt to the forced deportation of Afghan migrants.
“The situation of Afghan refugees in host nations, particularly Pakistan, is alarmingly concerning. The current Afghan government, the United Nations, and international aid organizations must urgently address the conditions faced by Afghan refugees in these regions,” stated Mohammad Khan Talebi Mohammadzai, a refugee rights activist.
Multiple incidents reported in Afghan media have drawn attention to the struggles of Afghan migrants, including hundreds of women and children who are being detained by police in various Pakistani cities and forcibly deported. Having fled from conflict and war in their homeland, Afghan migrants have sought refuge in Pakistan for decades. Afghan media has reported that refugees who have been expelled or forcibly deported frequently endure severe abuse and harassment, especially in Pakistan.
