Pakistan’s former foreign minister, Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari, has said that the caretaker government should have consulted all relevant stakeholders on the forced expulsion of Afghan refugees.
In a press conference in Quetta on Saturday, Bhutto-Zardari said that the issue of Afghan refugees is a complicated matter.
He rejected claims that the caretaker government does not have the authority to take such a decision, saying it is the responsibility of every government to enforce laws.
Bhutto-Zardari, however, said that the caretaker government should have engaged civil society, host communities and those that would be affected by the decision.
Pakistan’s caretaker government launched a crackdown on illegal migrants last month, a move that was criticized by rights groups.
Human Rights Watch reported that Pakistani authorities have committed widespread abuses against Afghans to compel their return to Afghanistan. Police and other officials have carried out mass detentions, seized property and livestock, and destroyed identity documents to expel thousands of Afghan refugees and asylum seekers.
Islamabad claims Afghan nationals are involved in attacks in Pakistan and expulsion of illegal refugees is a security-related decision.
Bhutto-Zardari said that Afghanistan should “behave like a state, instead of a group” and interact with the world as a state and government to improve its affairs.
“Afghanistan must demonstrate that the enemy of Pakistan is undoubtedly the enemy of Afghanistan,” he said.
The Islamic Emirae of Afghanistan (IEA) has previously rejected allegations against Afghans over security matters.
Referring to the situation in Chaman, where locals have opposed the new visa regime, Bhutto-Zardari said the government should talk with the protestors and find a solution to the problem. “Issue cannot be solved by not giving them media coverage.”
