Pakistan's order for all "illegal" Afghan migrants to leave the country has left millions, including long-term residents and those with valid documents, in fear of being forcibly returned to their home country. According to the United Nations, there are currently 3.7 million Afghans living in Pakistan; Islamabad places the figure at 4.4 million. According to Pakistani officials, only 1.4 million Afghans have the required papers, primarily Proof of Registration (Por) cards, to live legally in Pakistan. Despite Pakistan's insistence that the order only applies to 1.7 million "illegal migrants," Afghans, regardless of their official status, are fearful that they will be forced to leave because of the action. Many Afghan migrants assert that both those with legal papers and those without them are detained by the government.
People with deep roots in Pakistan are afraid as a result of
Pakistan's decision to send Afghan refugees back to their home country. The
commissioner for Afghan refugees in Pakistan, Abbas Khan, denied any intention
to target those with legal papers. He did say that the Afghan Citizen Cards (ACC),
a different form of identification that allowed Afghan asylum seekers to stay
in Pakistan, might now fall under the new decree. Afghan Citizen Cards are held
by an additional 800,000.
Pakistan's decision to send all "illegal" Afghan migrants to leave the country has left millions, including long-term residents and those with valid documents, fearing forcible return to their home country. Despite Pakistan's insistence that the order only applies to 1.7 million "illegal migrants," Afghans, regardless of their official status, are fearful that they will be forced to leave. The commissioner for Afghan refugees in Pakistan, Abbas Khan, denied targeting those with legal papers.
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