Afghan diplomat
ISLAMABAD: On Thursday, a senior Afghan diplomat, Chargé d’affaires, Ahmed Shakeeb, held a meeting with Sarfaraz Bugti, the caretaker Interior Minister, amidst the ongoing deportations of undocumented Afghan immigrants.
Pakistan has deported more than 160000 illegal Afghan refugees in one month.
Islamabad has issued ultimatum for 1.7 million undocumented Afghans to depart or face deportation.
Among these, just over 129,000 have left from the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, according to the provincial home department, while a total of 38,100 have crossed through the Chaman border in Balochistan.
The majority of these departures occurred in the days leading up to the November 1 deadline, as the police opened numerous holding centers to detain Afghan individuals who were apprehended.
Meanwhile, during their discussion, the two officials addressed the repatriation of Afghan refugees and the arrangements put in place for their safe return.
Bugti assured that the planned return of refugees would proceed as scheduled, emphasizing that authorities have been instructed to treat the returning refugees with respect.
He also highlighted that individuals holding Proof of Residence and Afghan Citizen Cards would not face any adverse actions.
Bugti further stated that women and children would be exempt from biometric verification at the border crossing points.
Additionally, he mentioned the establishment of a helpline and control centers to ensure a smooth and orderly process, while making it clear that any negligence or misconduct would not be tolerated.
