ISLAMABAD: Pakistan has issued a warning that Afghan refugees who are not accepted for resettlement by the United States will be treated as illegal immigrants and deported.
Speaking to TRT World, Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar stated that while Pakistan remains open to negotiations with the U.S., refugees whose resettlement is denied will no longer be allowed to stay.
“We will be examining the issue and will negotiate,” Dar said. “However, if a refugee was meant to be taken by another country after due process, and that country refuses, then that person will be considered an illegal immigrant in Pakistan.”
Since the Taliban’s return to power in August 2021, an estimated 600,000 Afghans have sought refuge in Pakistan, fearing persecution. Many applied for resettlement in third countries, particularly the United States.
While 80,000 Afghans have been successfully relocated, more than 40,000 remain stranded—with around 25,000 expecting to be resettled in the U.S.. However, their future became uncertain after former U.S. President Donald Trump abruptly suspended the resettlement program, leaving about 20,000 Afghans in limbo.
Under Trump’s January 20 executive order, U.S. authorities were directed to review the refugee admissions program within 90 days. However, reports indicate that the Office of the Coordinator for Afghan Relocation Efforts, responsible for overseeing Afghan resettlement in the U.S., has been ordered to shut down by April, further diminishing hopes for those awaiting relocation.
Many of these stranded Afghans had worked as interpreters, translators, journalists, human rights activists, and humanitarian workers, assisting the U.S. government and coalition forces. Their sudden deportation raises serious concerns, as they could face retaliation from the Taliban.
In November 2023, Pakistan launched a nationwide crackdown on undocumented foreigners, resulting in the repatriation of more than 815,000 individuals. Initially, Afghans awaiting third-country resettlement were granted permission to stay. However, Dar’s latest remarks suggest Pakistan is running out of patience, and the reprieve may soon come to an end.
Pakistan currently hosts over 2.5 million Afghan refugees, of whom only half are registered with the UNHCR. Those registered have been granted an extension until June 2025. However, last month, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s office announced a three-phase plan to expel Afghan refugees, setting a March 31 deadline to deport Afghan nationals from Islamabad and Rawalpindi as part of broader efforts.
Foreign governments that committed to accepting refugees have been urged to expedite their resettlement processes before the deadline. Otherwise, those awaiting relocation risk being deported to Afghanistan, where their safety remains uncertain.
