Global InformationAfghans in Pakistan information
 | This article possibly contains original research. (June 2016) |
افغان مهاجرين | |
|---|---|
| Total population | |
| c. 4.4 million (2023)[1] | |
| Languages | |
| Native: Pashto, Dari, Hazaragi Additional: Urdu, English | |
| Religion | |
| Islam (Sunni majority, Shia minority) |
Afghans in Pakistan (Urdu: افغان مهاجرين, Afghān muhājirīn, lit. 'Afghan migrants') are temporary residents from Afghanistan who are registered in Pakistan as refugees and asylum seekers.[2] They fall under the jurisdiction of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR).[3][4] Most of them were born and raised in Pakistan during the last four decades.[5] Additionally, there are also Special Immigrant Visa applicants awaiting to immigrate to the United States.[6][7][8][9]
The Pakistani government began admitting Afghans after the beginning of the Soviet–Afghan War in 1979; by the end of 2001, there were over four million of them on the Pakistani side.[10][11][12] About 75% of them have returned to their native country of Afghanistan since 2002.
As of October 2023[update], the United Nations estimates that nearly 3.7 million Afghans reside in Pakistan, while Pakistani authorities believe the number to be as high as 4.4 million.[13][14][15] Of these, only a few hold the required documentation allowing them to legally stay in Pakistan.[13] As of June 2023[update], approximately 1,333,749 registered refugees still remain in Pakistan according to UNHCR.[10] On 3 October 2023, the Interior Minister of Pakistan Sarfraz Bugti ordered that all undocumented immigrants, mainly nearly 1.73 million Afghan nationals, to voluntarily leave the country by 1 November 2023, or face deportation in a crackdown.[16]
- ^ "Afghanistan situation". United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees.
- ^ Cite error: The named reference
Government delivered first new Proof of Registration smartcards to Afghan refugeeswas invoked but never defined (see the help page). - ^ "75,000 Afghan refugee families impacted by COVID-19 received emergency cash". ReliefWeb. 29 Jan 2021. Retrieved 2021-07-30.
- ^ "Asylum system in Pakistan". UNHCR. Retrieved 2021-07-30.
- ^ Cite error: The named reference
Government, UNHCR verify 1.3 million Afghan refugees in Pakistanwas invoked but never defined (see the help page). - ^ "'Welcome Home': First Group of Evacuated Afghan Interpreters Arrive in US". WMAQ-TV. July 30, 2021. Retrieved 2021-07-30.
The interpreters and their family members are being resettled under a visa program for those who worked with U.S. troops and now face retaliation from the Taliban amid America's withdrawal
- ^ "Afghan who aided U.S. arrive at Virginia base, but many others remain in peril". Los Angeles Times. July 30, 2021. Retrieved 2021-07-30.
- ^ "House votes to expand and speed up visa process for Afghans who helped the U.S. during war". CNBC. July 22, 2021. Retrieved 2021-07-28.
- ^ "Joe Biden approves $300 million for Afghan refugees". Khaama Press. July 24, 2021. Retrieved 2021-07-28.
- ^ a b Cite error: The named reference
data2.unhcr.orgwas invoked but never defined (see the help page). - ^ "Refugee Affected and Hosting Areas Programme" (PDF). RAHA Brochure 2016. UNHCR. Archived from the original (PDF) on February 21, 2017. Retrieved February 20, 2017.
More than 4.4 million Afghans have sought refuge in Pakistan between 1979-2001, with over 3.2 million refugees in the country at the height of the displacement.
- ^ "USCR Country Report Afghanistan: Statistics on refugees and other uprooted people, Jun 2001". ReliefWeb. June 19, 2001. Retrieved 2021-08-04.
From 1996 to 1999, UNHCR estimated the 'official' Afghan refugee population in Pakistan to be some 1.2 million, but conceded that as many as 2 million other Afghans were probably living in Pakistan without documentation.
- ^ a b "Pakistan issues final warning to illegal immigrants to leave voluntarily before the November 1 deadline". RadioFreeEurope/RadioLiberty. 2023-10-26. Retrieved 2023-10-31.
- ^ Ahmed, Munir. "Pakistan announces big crackdown on migrants in the country illegally, including 1.7 million Afghans". ABC News. Retrieved 2023-10-31.
- ^ "Can Pakistan deport 1.7 million Afghan refugees? – DW – 10/04/2023". dw.com. Retrieved 2023-10-31.
- ^ "Pakistan wants undocumented migrants to leave by November 1 or get deported". Al Jazeera. October 3, 2023.