UNHCR Clarifies Stance on Afghan Refugee Transfer Amid Growing Concerns

UNHCR has emphasized that it is not involved in the transfer of Afghan refugees from the United States to Pakistan, a matter that is being addressed between Washington and Islamabad.

UNHCR’s Non-involvement in the Transfer of Afghans

The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) office in Pakistan has stated that it plays no role in the mass deportation of Afghan refugees from the United States to Pakistan. According to Qaisar Afridi, spokesperson for the organization, the discussion surrounding the transfer of refugees is a bilateral issue between the United States and Pakistan.

The UNHCR spokesperson also reiterated the organization’s strong stance against the forced repatriation of refugees back to Afghanistan from any country. These comments come amid warnings from Shan Van Dyver, head of the support organization Afghan Evac, about the possible deportation of over 150 Afghans to Pakistan and then Afghanistan.

Reports from the New York Times and Associated Press indicate that court documents in the United States have confirmed a special flight for the transfer of these individuals from Louisiana to Pakistan and subsequently to Afghanistan, raising concerns about the safety of these individuals.

Concerns from the Afghan Foreign Ministry

The Afghan interim government’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs has also expressed concern regarding the status of these refugees and urged the United States to act responsibly in this matter. In the same statement, other countries have been requested not to negotiate the fates of these Afghan citizens for short-term gains.

Reports suggest that human rights organizations, including Human Rights First, anticipate that the transfer flight for these individuals will take place on November 3; however, officials from both the United States and Pakistan have yet to disclose precise details about this flight.