Pakistan has announced plans to expel over 800,000 Afghan refugees in the second phase of its controversial repatriation program. Refugees who fail to leave voluntarily will face arrest and deportation. This move comes after the first phase of repatriation, which saw the return of over 1.73 million undocumented Afghan refugees. Pakistan cites security concerns and economic struggles as justification for the crackdown.
However, the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) has urged Pakistan to consider the profiles of undocumented Afghans, many of whom require international protection. \”They\’re refugees, not terrorists,\” said UNHCR representative Philippa Candler. \”They need protection, not expulsion.\”
Refugees at the Khazana refugee camp in Peshawar have pleaded for more time to leave in a dignified manner, citing forced raids and miserable conditions. Amnesty International has warned of the risk of persecution for refugees returning to Afghanistan.
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