Pakistan Hosts 44,000 Afghan Nationals Awaiting Western Relocation Amid Taliban Reprisals

Pakistan is currently hosting 44,000 Afghan nationals approved by Western nations for relocation due to fears of Taliban reprisals. Despite approvals by countries like the US, Australia, Canada, Germany, and the UK, most of these Afghans are still in Pakistan. The Pakistan government has urged faster visa processing for expedited relocation.

Pakistan announced on Thursday that it is hosting at least 44,000 Afghan nationals approved and accepted for relocation by Western countries due to fears of Taliban reprisals. In 2021, after the Taliban took over Kabul, Pakistan saw an influx of Afghans fleeing their homeland.

Foreign Office spokeswoman Mumtaz Zahra Baloch confirmed during a weekly press briefing that 25,000 Afghans were approved for relocation to the US, 9,000 to Australia, 6,000 to Canada, 3,000 to Germany, and over 1,000 to the UK, but they remain in Pakistan. She emphasized the need for expedited approval and visa issuance from these countries to relieve the situation.

Baloch detailed the deteriorating relationship with Afghanistan's interim government over militant activities and mentioned the crackdown on illegal aliens, mostly Afghans, leading to the repatriation of over half a million people. Despite discussions with the UN High Commissioner for Refugees, Pakistan remains committed to the Illegal Foreigners Repatriation Plan.