US expresses support for Afghan Refugees Amid Pakistan’s Threatened Expulsion

The United States has engaged in high-level diplomatic discussions in Pakistan to address concerns related to Afghan refugees on the brink of mass deportation, VOA reported.

The Pakistani government has pledged to deport hundreds of thousands of Afghan nationals who do not possess recognized refugee status.

A spokesperson from the U.S. Department of State said that Washington is urging Pakistan to adhere to the principle of nonrefoulement, grant entry and extend humanitarian aid to Afghan refugees.

The United Nations, along with various human rights organizations, have cautioned Pakistan against a mass deportation, saying such a move could further destabilize Afghanistan’s already dire humanitarian situation and leave some Afghans vulnerable to persecution by the Taliban.

“UNHCR is appealing to Pakistan to continue its protection of all vulnerable Afghans who have sought safety in Pakistan,” the U.N. Refugee Agency said in a statement last week.

The U.N. has offered to help register Afghans who need international protection in Pakistan.