Large numbers of Afghans leave Pakistan amidst controversial anti-migrant crackdown

Описание: (31 Oct 2023)
RESTRICTION SUMMARY:

ASSOCIATED PRESS
Torkham, Pakistan - 31 October 2023
1. Various of trucks loaded with Afghan refugees belongings, people standing, sitting, at Pak-Afghan border area
2. Child climbs on truck with belongings
3. Men talking
4. Family walking
5. Afghan on top of truck with belongings
6. SOUNDBITE (Pashto) Rohullah Khan, Afghan refugee:
“We lived nearly 40 years in Pakistan but they did not accept us, nor given us any documents so we can stay. As you can see hundreds of families in these trucks are going back to Afghanistan and we are gathered here at the Torkham border. Some of these families are going to Kabul, some to Jalalabad, and some Kunar. But the disappointing thing for us is that they (the Pakistan Government) should have given us at least one year. Due to this short time of only one month, we sold our properties at very cheap prices. Now we are on our way to Afghanistan and winter is coming and there will be no work for us there.”
7. Convoy of trucks carrying Afghan families passing in front of camera
8. Wide of trucks parked near border area loaded with Afghan families and kids
9. Various trucks moving toward border carrying Afghan refugees, waving hand toward camera
10. Various of long queue of trucks, Afghan kids on board
11. SOUNDBITE (Pashto) Ahmed Gul, refugee:
“I lived 6-years in Sialkot area of Punjab, spent good time there, I had a good life there. I was staying illegally and without proper documents. I heard about the one month deadline for undocumented refugees to leave, so that’s why today I, with my family, am going back to my country happily.”
12. Various of refugees walking toward border gate
STORYLINE:
Large numbers of Afghans crammed into trucks and buses in Pakistan on Tuesday, heading to the border to return home hours before the expiration of a Pakistani government deadline for those who are in the country illegally to leave or face deportation.

The deadline is part of a new anti-migrant crackdown that targets all undocumented or unregistered foreigners, according to Islamabad.

But it mostly affects Afghans, who make up the bulk of migrants in Pakistan.

The expulsion campaign has drawn widespread criticism from U.N. agencies, rights groups and the Taliban-led administration in Afghanistan.

Pakistani officials warn that people who are in the country illegally face arrest and deportation after Oct. 31.

U.N. agencies say there are more than 2 million undocumented Afghans in Pakistan, at least 600,000 of whom fled after the Taliban takeover in 2021.

Although the government insists it isn't targeting Afghans, the campaign comes amid strained relations between Pakistan and the Taliban rulers next door.

Islamabad accuses Kabul of turning a blind eye to Taliban-allied militants who find shelter in Afghanistan, from where they go back and forth across the two countries shared 2,611-kilometer (1,622-mile) border to stage attacks in Pakistan. The Taliban deny the accusations.

Rohullah Khan, who’s family spent 40 years in Pakistan, said he is disappointed at the Pakistani government.

"They (the Pakistan Government) should have given us at least one year. Due to this short time of only one month, we sold our properties at very cheap prices. Now we are on our way to Afghanistan and winter is coming and there will be no work for us there.”

“We lived nearly 40 years in Pakistan but they did not accept us, nor given us any documents so we can stay," he added.




Pakistan has insisted the deportations would be carried out in a “phased and orderly” manner.












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