Kabul, Jan 11 (UNI) Citing concerns over the massive Afghan refugee crisis in Pakistan, the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) has called upon Islamabad to cease its mass deportation of Afghan nationals, and said that this move blatantly violates international human rights.
Qaiser Khan, Deputy Spokesperson for UNHCR in Pakistan, said: "UNHCR is ready to assist the government of Pakistan both financially and technically. We urge the government not to deport Afghans who have been refugees for many years,” according to Tolonews.
Since the intensifying hostilities between the two Islamic countries along with several incidents of cross-border skirmishes, Pakistan has greatly increased its harassment of Afghans in its province of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, with locals reporting widespread harassment, torture, and extortion by local police. In addition, the Pakistani military and border guard have been forcefully deporting hundreds of Afghans, an issue that has stirred the ire of the Taliban regime.