Many Afghan refugees to leave as Pakistan gives last warning to undocumented migrants

The caretaker interior minister of Pakistan issued a final warning on Thursday to all illegal immigrants, including thousands of Afghan nationals, to leave the country voluntarily before a deadline of November 1.

At a press conference in Islamabad, Interim Interior Minister Sarfraz Bugti stated that Pakistan was committed to carrying out its plan to expel all unlawful immigrants by November 1.

Pakistan made the announcement in October. It claims that after Afghan nationals were discovered to be connected to crimes, smuggling, and assaults against the army and administration, including 14 of the 24 suicide bombs that have occurred this year, it made the decision.

“All the illegal immigrants have been identified. The state has a complete data,” said Bugti. “I want to appeal one more time that all the illegal immigrants should leave voluntarily by the deadline.”

Bugti cautioned that after the deadline has passed, law enforcement will begin an operation to remove individuals.

In addition, he threatened to take legal action against anyone discovered to have assisted or concealed the immigrants.

The government is setting up temporary centres to process the immigrants, who are primarily Afghans and many of them have been residents of Pakistan for years.

Those who choose to leave freely will receive assistance with leaving Pakistan, including help with document preparation, currency exchange authorization, and travel.

Pakistan has received the largest influx of Afghan refugees since the Soviet invasion of Kabul in 1979.

Hundreds of thousands of Afghans moved to Pakistan to escape war and conflicts, and many are registered as refugees with the government and U.N. agencies.

Following border confrontations in recent months, the expulsion proposal represents a new low in the relationship between the South Asian neighbours.

Islamabad asserts that the terrorists train fighters on Afghan soil and plot strikes within Pakistan; Kabul disputes this claim, arguing that Pakistan’s security is a local matter.

(With agency inputs)