3 CRITICAL QUESTIONS FOR DECODING AFGHAN REPATRIATION

1. Is Pakistan the sole nation deporting illegal Afghan immigrants?
◾ Absolutely not! According to the International Organization for Migration (IOM), Iran has also safeguarded its national interests by repatriating a staggering 1,031,757 Afghans in 2021 alone, and over 250,000 refugees since January 2023, with at least half of them facing some form of coercion.

2. Is Pakistan forcefully expelling all Afghans from its territory?
◾ Not quite . As per the EU Agency of Asylum and the IFJ, a whopping 1.7 million Afghans are living illegally in Pakistan without any Proof of Registration (PoR) cards. It is this particular group of 1.7 million illegal immigrants, which poses the most significant threat in terms of terrorism and financial crimes in Pakistan, that is being targeted for deportation.

3. Is Pakistan receiving any financial assistance for hosting Afghan refugees?
◾ In short, No! According to both UNHCR and STIMSON’s official website, Pakistan is not receiving any funding for hosting Afghan refugees. The only financial aid provided is UNHCR’s one-time cash grant of up to Rs. 25,000, which is directly given to refugee families, with no share allocated for the Pakistani govt.

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