By The Smartencyclopedia Staff & Agencies

In a move that has sparked concerns about the humanitarian situation in Afghanistan, Pakistani authorities have deported 1,911 Afghan migrants in a single day. The mass deportation came on Sunday, Dec. 31, 2023, continuing a trend of large-scale repatriation of undocumented immigrants.

The deportations occurred through the Spin Boldak and Torkham border crossings, two of the main entry points for Afghans entering Pakistan. According to local media reports, the majority of the deported migrants were men, and many of them had been living in Pakistan for years.

Since Nov. 1, 2023, Pakistan has repatriated 455,645 undocumented Afghan migrants, reflecting a significant increase in deportations. The Pakistani government has cited security concerns and the need to curb illegal immigration as reasons for the mass deportations.

However, the decision has been met with criticism from human rights groups, who argue that it is exacerbating the humanitarian crisis in Afghanistan. Afghanistan is already facing a severe economic crisis, and the mass deportations are putting further strain on the country’s already limited resources.

“The deportations are a humanitarian disaster in the making,” said Heather Barr, a senior researcher at Human Rights Watch. “These people are being sent back to a country where they have no homes, no jobs, and no access to basic services.”

The United Nations has also expressed concern about the deportations, warning that they could lead to a “humanitarian catastrophe” in Afghanistan.

“We are deeply concerned about the situation of Afghan refugees and migrants in Pakistan,” said Stéphane Dujarric, the spokesman for the Secretary-General of the United Nations. “We urge the authorities in Pakistan to find durable solutions for these individuals, including regularizing their status or facilitating their voluntary repatriation.”

The Afghan government has also criticized the deportations, calling them “unilateral and uncoordinated.”

“The deportations are not in line with the spirit of brotherhood and neighborly relations between Afghanistan and Pakistan,” said Zabihullah Mujahid, a spokesman for the Afghan Taliban government.

The mass deportations have left many Afghan migrants stranded at the border, with no clear path forward. Many of them are now facing homelessness and hunger.

“I have no idea what to do,” said Mohammad, an Afghan migrant who was deported on Sunday. “I have no home to go back to in Afghanistan. I don’t know where I will go or what I will do.”

The deportations are a stark reminder of the difficult situation facing Afghans both inside and outside of their country. The international community needs to step up and provide more support to Afghanistan, or else the humanitarian crisis will only worsen.