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Pakistan Deports Afghans for "Disturbing Law and Order"
Additional Reporting by Aamir Latif
ISLAMABAD, Nov. 3 (IslamOnline & News Agencies) - Pakistan deported about 400 Afghan refugees from different cities last month for allegedly disturbing law and order, a foreign office spokesman told IslamOnline Saturday.
Pakistan authorities claimed the deported Afghans participated in anti-U.S. rallies and damaged public and private property.
"These refugees, living for [the] last several years in Pakistan were found [to be] involved in violating law and order and damaging private and public property in different parts of the country during violent demonstrations and rallies," the spokesman claimed.
Pakistan's military government, squeezed by growing anti-U.S. sentiment because of its support for the U.S.-led military campaign in Afghanistan, warned the Afghan refugees last month that they risked deportation if they participated in demonstrations and rallies.
"A majority of these refugees have been deported from Peshawar and Quetta," said the foreign office spokesman, who added "about 40 more refugees will be handed over to Taliban officials within a day or two at Chaman border."
The deportees were allegedly involved in damaging government buildings and torching vehicles during a violent strike on Oct. 8, following an appeal by the Pak-Afghan Defense Council (a conglomeration of 34 pro-Taliban religious organizations), he contended.
"The refugees living in Pakistan must keep in their minds that they are living here as guests," said the spokesman. "They have no right to hold protests and rallies disturbing civic life in the country."
The spokesman also said Pakistan's federal government had issued clear directives to all provincial governments to take stern action against any refugees found involved in anti-social and anti-law activities.
Meanwhile, the Afghan counsel-general, Maulvi Rehmatullah Kakazada, in Karachi rejected the allegations, claiming that none of the Afghan refugees were involved in damaging property or violating the law during anti-U.S. rallies and demonstrations.
"These demonstrations and rallies are locally sponsored," Kakazada told IslamOnline. "Afghan refugees have nothing to do with it." He added that the Afghan government had already issued directives to refugees residing in Pakistan not to participate in demonstrations.
Pakistan, which has hosted more than two million Afghan refugees since 1979, faces another influx of refugees in the wake of continuous air strikes by U.S.-led forces. According to United Nations projections, four million more refugees from Afghanistan are expected to enter neighboring countries, including Pakistan and Iran.
"Pakistan has closed its borders with Afghanistan to contain the heavy influx of refugees as the country's already tottering economy cannot afford any more refugees," said Interior Minister Moinuddin Haider. He added, "Only sick people or those who are carrying proper documents are being allowed to enter Pakistan."
Haider said five temporary camps had been set up near the Torkhum (Peshawar) and Chaman (Quetta) borders, where any new refugees would stay, but they would not be allowed to enter Pakistan's cities. He appealed to the world community to help Pakistan deal with the impending refugee crisis.
Several European and Arab countries have offered financial assistance to aid the Pakistan government in coping with the fresh refugee influx.
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