Deportations from Pakistan unprecedented: Baradar

KANDAHAR CITY (Pajhwok): Deputy Prime Minister for Economic Affairs Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar says no country in the world has expelled refugees in such a way as Afghans are being deported by Pakistan.

Mullah Baradar made the remarks during the inauguration ceremony for the construction of the 209-kilometre Uruzgan-Kandahar highway.

He said the way Afghans were being deported by Pakistan had never been seen before elsewhere in the world.

Baradar added committees and camps had been established to facilitate the returnees and all possible facilities were being provided for them.

“We have shared our views with that country. Whether or not Pakistan, we don’t care and we are happy. But this kind of repatriation has not happened anywhere else,” he remarked.

The deputy premier said in addition to Torkham and Spin Boldak, camps had been built in Nimroz and Islam Qala to facilitate the returnees.

Tens of thousands of illegal migrants have been deported from Pakistan in line with a countrywide crackdown that began on November 1, following the expiry of a month-long deadline.

According to reports, even refugees with legal documents are being arrested, their houses are demolished and many forcibly evicted from Pakistan.

More than 350,000 Afghan migrants have been deported from Pakistan so far, authorities estimate.

sa/mud