Pakistan has issued a stern warning to Afghan refugees awaiting resettlement in the United States, threatening to expel them unless the U.S. initiates a relocation process by September. The statement comes from Pakistan’s Foreign Minister, Ishaq Dar, in an interview with Turkey’s TRT World on Saturday.
In a sharp warning to Afghan refugees in Pakistan, Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar stated that if the U.S. government does not take action to resettle these refugees, Pakistan will have no choice but to deport them back to Afghanistan. Dar emphasized that the U.S. had promised to begin the resettlement process by September this year but has yet to initiate any steps.
The refugees, who had been promised relocation to the U.S., now face an uncertain future. If the U.S. refuses to accept them, Dar confirmed, they would be treated as illegal immigrants in Pakistan and forcibly sent back to Afghanistan.
However, Dar also expressed Pakistan’s willingness to cooperate with Washington to find a resolution. He mentioned that the Pakistani government was closely monitoring the situation and would work toward a diplomatic solution.
The situation was exacerbated last month when U.S. President Donald Trump issued an order suspending all refugee applications and travel permits for certain countries until further notice, citing national security concerns. This decision has left thousands of Afghan refugees stranded in Pakistan and other countries, including 45,000 Afghans preparing to leave Afghanistan and another 15,000 refugees in Pakistan, vulnerable and without options.
Liberty News’ international correspondent states the U.S. refugee resettlement organization, #AfghanEvac, which aids in the relocation of Afghan refugees, has expressed concern about the dire predicament faced by these individuals due to the ongoing delays and the suspension of refugee applications.
LND/BAIZID
