UNHCR Warns as Pakistan Expels 800,000 Afghan Nationals

The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) has raised alarms regarding Pakistan's decision to expel Afghan nationals holding Afghan Citizenship Cards (ACC), affecting approximately 800,000 individuals. The deadline for these individuals to leave voluntarily is set for March 31, with mass deportations looming thereafter, which has left the Afghan community in Pakistan deeply unsettled. UNHCR representative Philippa Candler emphasized the contributions of Afghan refugees to Pakistani society, including their roles in the workforce and economy, while highlighting the discrimination and legal challenges they often face. Candler's message coincided with Eid-ul-Fitr, wherein she described the heart-wrenching stories of Afghan families fearing forced repatriation to conditions of insecurity in Afghanistan. The deportation policy forms part of a broader crackdown initiated due to security concerns related to Afghan nationals. UNHCR is urging the international community to enhance humanitarian assistance and facilitate safe resettlement for those displaced since the Taliban takeover in 2021.