In a refugee settlement near Karachi, Pakistan, Afghan families gathered on Sunday to observe Eid al-Adha, not with joy but with concern. On Monday, thousands of individuals who have lived in Pakistan for generations will face a deportation deadline and an uncertain future. Since the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan in 1979, millions of Afghans have sought refuge in Pakistan due to violence and instability. The latest wave of displacement occurred after the Taliban took control of Afghanistan in August 2021, and many now face mandatory repatriation with a March 31 deadline.
Haji Abdullah Bukhari, a community leader in Karachi, expressed that Pakistan should show compassion and provide more time for the refugees to prepare. He believes that uprooting their lives in just a few days is impossible, as many have spent decades in Pakistan and are now being forced to return to a country they barely know. The Pakistani government’s decision to deport Afghan refugees stems from its growing frustration with the Taliban administration, which it accuses of harboring Pakistani militants.
Back in 2023, Pakistan expelled hundreds of thousands of Afghans, but most refugees awaiting resettlement in Western countries were spared due to diplomatic interventions. However, their fate became more uncertain when President Trump issued an executive order suspending all refugee admissions to the United States. In February, Pakistan announced its plans to repatriate Afghan nationals awaiting resettlement by March 31, along with other Afghan citizens and undocumented migrants.
The deportation decision has sparked widespread unease, particularly among those most vulnerable to Taliban persecution. Many fear prison, torture, or execution if forcibly sent back to Afghanistan. International organizations and the Taliban administration have called on Pakistan to extend the deportation deadline, but the government has denied these appeals. The Pakistani government justifies its actions by comparing them to ongoing deportation efforts in the United States and European countries.
Source: https://www.nytimes.com/2025/03/31/world/asia/uncertainty-torments-afghan-refugees-facing-deportation-from-pakistan.html
