Global development
Afghans awaiting resettlement in the UK and other Western countries are facing stiff charges in an “unprecedented” move
Wed, Nov 22, 2023, 06:00 GMT
Pakistan’s decision to charge hundreds of dollars in exit fees to every Afghan refugee who has fled Taliban persecution has been condemned by Western diplomats and the United Nations as “shocking and frustrating.”
The “unprecedented” move is aimed at refugees waiting to leave Pakistan for western countries under resettlement programs and charges about $830 (£660) for each person.
This came after Pakistan announced a crackdown on undocumented foreigners and declared November 1 as the deadline for the departure of about two million unregistered Afghans. Pakistan began mass deportations of undocumented Afghans after the deadline.
Thousands of Afghans without the correct documents or with expired visas have been in Pakistan since the fall of Kabul in August 2021, waiting to resume their lives in countries to the west. Most of them worked with Western governments and organizations and are eligible for resettlement on humanitarian grounds.
“We are so scared”: Pakistan rounds up Afghan refugees for deportation
The US government plans to resettle almost 25,000 Afghans in the country. The United Kingdom has announced plans to relocate 20,000 people.
Five senior Western diplomats in Pakistan told the Guardian that Pakistan’s exit permit fee was unprecedented internationally and came as a shock. “I know it is very difficult for Pakistan economically, but trying to make money from the refugees is really unattractive,” said a diplomat.
“The issue has also been raised by the two UN organizations leading this mess [UN refugee agency] UNHCR and [International Organization of Migration] IOM,” the diplomat added. “It was also raised in capitals and headquarters. I suspect everyone passed the message on to themselves too [Pakistani contacts].”
Another diplomat said Western officials were briefed on the move at an Interior and Foreign Ministry briefing. When concerns were raised about the fee, officials were told the original decision was to charge $10,000 per person, but this was reduced to $830.
“It’s very bizarre and I personally find it very frustrating. If Pakistan wants to ease the process of resettling refugees in the West, it should not complicate it further with such absurd conditions,” the diplomat said. “What is the justification for this exit permit fee? To make a lot of money?”
The exit permit must be paid for by credit card, which many Afghan refugees do not have access to. Another diplomat said: “This makes it worse because the payments should be paid by refugees and most of them don’t have credit cards. “I think we need a cooperative approach to working together to help the refugees and we are going “I assume that Pakistan will help.”
Mumtaz Zahra Baloch, Pakistan’s foreign ministry spokeswoman, said there was no plan to change the policy. “These people have been here for two years and they are not refugees, but immigrants with an extended stay and missing documents. However, we expect that the affected countries will expedite the visa and permit process so that they can leave for their destination as early as possible,” she said.
Last week there were protests in Lahore against the deportation of Afghan refugees from Pakistan. Photo: Arif Ali/AFP/Getty Images
Baloch said more information was needed to process the refugees’ resettlement as some Western countries had given them names without further details. But a Western diplomat said: “We try to provide information that the Pakistani government asks for, but we also have legal restrictions on the amount of information we can provide.”
The British Embassy in Islamabad declined to comment on the exit permit fee.
Babar Baloch, a UNHCR spokesman, said: “UNHCR is working with the Government of Pakistan to resolve the issue of exit penalties and overstay visa fees for refugees in the resettlement program.” UNHCR is lobbying the authorities to do so ensure that refugees are exempt from these requirements.”
He said the United Nations was aware that the situation could cause fear among those who had fled to Pakistan but were desperate to leave the country and start a new life. “Resettlement is part of a global solidarity and life-saving mechanism for some of the most vulnerable refugees and asylum seekers.”
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