Eviction of refugees: Yaqub warns Pakistan of consequences

KABUL (Pajhwok): Acting Defense Minister Maulvi Mohammad Yaqub Mujahid has asked Pakistan to stop ‘ongoing oppression’ of Afghan refugees, measure its consequences and “sow as much as you can reap”.

Pakistan had set November 1 the deadline for undocumented Afghan refugees to leave the country or face mass deportations and detention.  About 1.4 million undocumented Afghans live in Pakistan.

According to reports, Afghan refugees are being arrested, their houses are demolished and many were forcibly evicted and the crackdown is ongoing.

Acting Foreign Minister Maulvi Amir Khan Muttaqi had informed the representative of the United Nations Secretary General that the Pakistani government was raiding the homes of Afghans to deport them. He said the Afghans were robbed of cash and movable assets and even not allowed to take their animals.

Radio and Television Afghanistan has published the speech of Maulvi Mohammad Yaqub Mujahid.

Mujahid said: “We call on Pakistan not to oppress and abuse Afghans, not deprive them of their personal property and not confiscate their assets as no law or principal allows this”.

“We will try our best to prevent it, we will not allow anyone to confiscate the personal property of our Afghan brothers.”

He said the Afghans were oppressed everywhere —- on the roads and at the crossings during their arrival —- something that should be stopped as soon as possible.

“We appeal to the world, the United Nations and international organizations, the Organization of Islamic Countries to ask Pakistan to end this situation. The refugees should return to their country in a dignified way”.

He said the ongoing crackdown on Afghan refugees would make tense relations between the two countries and the situation would take a dangerous direction.

He said Pakistan had taken a unilateral decision about the refugees and the decision was not acceptable to them. “We do not agree with it at all. It is a one-sided and cruel decision imposed on Afghans.”

Two camps have been established in Torkham for returning refugees, where they are provided with basic services. The refugees are transported to their own areas from Torkham and Spin Boldak free of charge.

Also, some Afghans have started a campaign on social media to help their compatriots returning from Pakistan.

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