KABUL (Pajhwok): The United States has promised to continue supporting the International Organization for Migration (IOM) and UNHCR for assisting Afghan returnees.
US Special Representative for Afghanistan Thomas West wrote on X: “US continues to support @IOMAfghanistan and @UNHCRAfg as they assist Afghan returnees and coordinate locally regarding urgent needs.”
He added that the returnees deserved safety, respect and protection.
Meanwhile, US Chargé d’Affaires Karen Decker also wrote on her X account: “Pleased to hear from partners about good cooperation with local Afghan authorities in aiding thousands of Afghan returnees daily with food, shelter, medical care.”
The government of Pakistan had set November 1 deadline for all refugees lacking legal residency documents to leave the country or face mass deportations.
According to reports, Afghan refugees with legal documents are also being arrested, their houses demolished and many forcibly evicted from Pakistan.
Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan (IEA) spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid says more than 400,000 Afghan refugees have so far returned to the country from Pakistan since November 1.
sa/ma
