Pakistan expels Afghan asylum seekers, demanding their departure from the country by November.

The government of Pakistan has issued an order for all unauthorized Afghan asylum seekers, estimated to be around 1.7 million people, to leave the country by November. This decision comes as a result of an increase in militant attacks along the border between Pakistan and Afghanistan, which has escalated tensions between the two nations. Pakistan has accused Afghanistan-based operatives of carrying out these attacks, a claim that the Taliban regime denies. However, these accusations have led to resentment in Islamabad, prompting the government to announce a crackdown on "illegal" migrants. The recent blast at a mosque in Mastung city, located near the border with Afghanistan, further fueled these measures. Pakistan's Interior Minister, Sarfraz Bugti, made the announcement but did not directly reference the mosque attack or another attack in Balochistan province. The right to seek refuge in a foreign country is protected by international law, and Pakistan has been a host to hundreds of thousands of Afghan refugees since the Taliban regained power in 2021. According to the UN, approximately 1.3 million Afghans are registered as refugees, and an additional 880,000 have the legal status to remain in Pakistan. However, Minister Bugti claims that another 1.7 million people are in the country "illegally," most likely referring to those who have not yet obtained refugee status. He stated that these individuals must leave the country by the end of the month, either voluntarily or through forced deportation. The minister did not provide specific details on how this operation would be carried out. Furthermore, a taskforce has been established to identify and seize private businesses and assets held by "illegal" Afghan residents. Afghan officials in Pakistan responded to these measures by stating that local authorities have already begun detaining Afghan citizens, regardless of their legal status. In a statement, the Afghan embassy in Pakistan reported that over 1,000 Afghans had been detained in the past two weeks. Balochistan province, located near Pakistan's border, has frequently been targeted by armed groups such as the Tehrik-e Taliban Pakistan (TTP) and the Islamic State. A recent explosion in this area injured 11 individuals, including a prominent Muslim leader. It has been reported that Pakistan ultimately intends for all Afghans, including those with legal status and residence cards, to leave the country. Minister Bugti claims that there have been 24 suicide bombings along Pakistan's border since January, with more than half attributed to militants operating from Afghanistan. As of November 1, tighter restrictions on Afghan entry into Pakistan will be implemented, allowing only individuals with visas and passports to enter. Historically, Afghan nationals have used their national identity cards as travel documents when crossing into Pakistan. However, there is currently a backlog of Afghans seeking documents to enter Pakistan, resulting in obtaining visas and passports becoming a lengthy process.