Pakistan’s Interior Minister has warned that Afghan refugees who are waiting in Pakistan to be relocated to other countries will be forcibly deported if they are not transferred by the end of April.

Nagina, who has been living in Pakistan with her daughter for the past four years, is waiting to be relocated to a European country. She says the cost of living and visa processes in Pakistan are very high, making life extremely difficult for refugees.

Nagina, an Afghan refugee in Pakistan, said: “Housing is very expensive, getting a visa is very difficult. We have to pay high fees for visas. Life is full of challenges.”

Another refugee, Isra, said: “I’m very scared because officials once came to our school looking for Afghans. Some of our classmates were taken away.”

Meanwhile, Pakistan’s Minister of State for Interior warned that if thousands of Afghans—who have already registered for resettlement in Western countries—are not transferred by the end of April, they may be deported from Pakistan.

Pakistan’s Minister of State for Interior, Talal Chaudhry, said: “The repatriation of refugees will happen in three phases: In the first phase, foreigners without legal documents will be deported; In the second, Afghan nationals will be returned; And in the third, those with Afghan Citizen Cards will be deported.”

On the other hand, the spokesperson for Pakistan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs told reporters that deporting "undocumented migrants" is Pakistan’s legitimate right.

Shafqat Ali Khan said that Islamabad is cooperating with the United Nations to protect vulnerable individuals and that all complaints will be investigated.

Mohammad Khan Talebi, a refugee rights activist, said: “The harsh policy adopted by the Pakistani government toward Afghan refugees needs the attention of international organizations and the global community to address the challenges refugees are facing.”

Yesterday, in an interview with TOLOnews, the head of the UNHCR (United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees) called on host countries—especially Pakistan and Iran—to treat Afghan refugees with dignity and humanity.