UN calls on Pakistan to halt Afghan exodus during winter

The U.N. refugee agency urged Pakistan on Wednesday to stop deporting undocumented Afghan refugees during the harsh winter months, while authorities kept searching homes and evicting Afghanis who had not yet fled behind.

In the midst of a dispute with Kabul over accusations that it harbours militants hostile to Pakistan, Islamabad declared last month that it would deport over a million undocumented refugees, the majority of whom were Afghans.

Since October 1, more over 370,000 Afghans have left Pakistan.

The U.N. refugee agency urged Pakistan on Wednesday to stop deporting undocumented Afghan refugees during the harsh winter months, while authorities kept searching homes and evicting Afghanis who had not yet fled behind.

In the midst of a dispute with Kabul over accusations that it harbours militants hostile to Pakistan, Islamabad declared last month that it would deport over a million undocumented refugees, the majority of whom were Afghans.

Since October 1, more over 370,000 Afghans have left Pakistan.

Thousands of Afghans have fled to Pakistan in order to escape being deported because they fear for their lives should they return to the Taliban-ruled country after the frantic and disorderly withdrawal of western forces led by the United States in 2021.

International organisations and refugee agencies have not received any encouragement from Islamabad to reevaluate its deportation plans thus far.

According to a court decision released on Wednesday, the Supreme Court of Pakistan has accepted a plea submitted by human rights activists asking for the deportation to be stopped. The petition will not be heard just yet.

(With agency inputs)