Kabul is not happy as Pakistan’s PM backed his government’s decision
The expulsion of more than 1.5 million Afghan refugees and migrants by Pakistan has triggered tensions with the Taliban-ruled country once again. Despite harsh criticism from Kabul, more than 200,000 Afghan refugees have crossed Afghanistan since Pakistan’s government deadline on October 31 ended, officials said.
Amid this ongoing crisis, Pakistan’s caretaker prime minister, Anwaarul Haq Kakar, on Wednesday, while addressing the media in Islamabad, said:
“We had high hopes that long-term peace would prevail in Afghanistan after the interim Afghan government was established in August 2021. A strict action plan will be put in place to deal with Pakistan-opposing groups, especially the Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan, and they will not be allowed to use Afghan soil against Pakistan.”
He, while expressing his discontent with the outcomes they faced, said, “Unfortunately, there has been a 60 percent increase in terror incidents and a 500 percent increase in suicide attacks in Pakistan since the establishment of the interim Afghan government. The terrorists of TTP have carried out cowardly attacks on Pakistani citizens using Afghan soil in the past two years, killing 2,267 innocent citizens.”
While referring to the recent attacks in Pakistan, he stated, “There were also 15 Afghan citizens involved in suicide attacks during this time. In addition, 64 Afghan citizens have been killed in the counterterrorism campaign against Pakistan’s law enforcement agencies.”
In answer to the question about assistance, the PM said, “We would welcome any assistance. It’s okay if there isn’t. We have decided that is in our best interest, even with limited resources.”
“Pakistan has the full legal and ethical right to send back foreigners residing in the country illegally,” he further said.
“an injustice that cannot be ignored in any way
On the other side, the spokesperson of the Afghan government, Bilal Karimi, said, “This is injustice, an injustice that cannot be ignored in any way. The forced expulsion of people is in conflict with all the norms of good neighborliness in the long term. There may be many negative effects on the relations and communications between the two countries.”
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It is worth noting that in the recent past, there has been an insurgency of attacks in Pakistan. Two security vehicles in Gwadar were attacked last week by militants, killing 14 soldiers. In a clearance operation on the following day, nine terrorists were killed after the Pakistan Army foiled a terrorist attack on the Mianwali Air Base. An intelligence-based operation led to the martyrdom of four security personnel in Tirah a day ago.
Before October 31, Pakistan had about 4 million foreigners, including 2.8 million Afghans. Only 2.2 million Afghans, the government claims, have a government-approved document that allows them to stay.