Pakistan has suspended its “Illegal Foreigners Repatriation Plan”, according to a statement from the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) following a meeting between Pakistan’s Prime Minister and UN High Commissioner for Refugees, Filippo Grandi, in Islamabad.

Grandi expressed appreciation for the suspension of the process and sought assurances that it would remain on hold.

The Afghan Embassy in Islamabad quoted Grandi as saying that the forced deportation of Afghan refugees by Pakistan was largely political. According to an official statement from the Afghan Embassy, Grandi assured Acting Afghan Ambassador Muhammad Shakib that he had discussed the issue with Pakistani authorities, resulting in a further delay of forced deportations.

Grandi proposed a trilateral meeting between Afghanistan, Pakistan, and UNHCR to unify refugee cards and ensure they are valid, protecting refugees’ rights and preventing their political exploitation.

During his three-day visit to Pakistan, Grandi emphasized the need for a timely extension of Proof of Registration cards, a crucial identity document held by over 1.3 million Afghan refugees. He praised Pakistan in hosting Afghan refugees for 45 years while acknowledging the challenges faced by the country.

Afghan refugees

The High Commissioner called for an urgent reset of the aid model, focusing on solutions and responsibility sharing. He proposed developing new partnerships and innovative approaches to address the protracted displacement situation.

Grandi offered to facilitate a dialogue later this year, bringing together key stakeholders to develop solutions benefiting both the Afghan population in Pakistan and the host country. He also committed to intensifying efforts to create conducive conditions for returns to Afghanistan, including improving material conditions, access to services, job opportunities, and rights.

Pakistan unleashed a brutal crackdown last November on all foreigners illegally staying in the country, citing a rise in attacks and attributing them to Afghan people residing among the refugee populations. The move has targeted more than 1 million Afghan migrants and asylum-seekers who lack legal documents or valid visas. 

Reportedly, over 600,000 Afghans have been repatriated to their homeland since the deportation campaign started.

According to the latest UN figures, approximately 1.3 million Afghans are registered refugees in Pakistan, with another 880,000 having legal status to stay. Pakistani officials claim that around 700,000 Afghans seeking asylum have entered Pakistan since the Taliban takeover in August 2021, with only 75,000 moving on to other countries.

The Pashtun Tahafuz Movement United Kingdom (PTM UK) has announced its first demonstration against the Pakistan Army’s military operations in the Pashtun tribal areas. The protest is scheduled for Friday, July 19, at 4:00 p.m. in front of the Pakistan Embassy in London.

This demonstration comes in the wake of a brutal attack on Gilaman Wazir, a Pashtun poet and human rights activist, in Islamabad. PTM UK has strongly condemned this attack and is calling on the United Nations to pressure Pakistan to cease the killing and torture of oppressed tribes and to ensure that Wazir’s attackers are punished according to law.

The organization is urging all Afghans and Pashtuns living in the UK to join the protest and make it a success. PTM UK aims to highlight longstanding issues affecting the Pashtun community, including enforced disappearances, extrajudicial killings, and collective punishment inflicted upon Pashtuns under the guise of counter-terrorism operations.

These issues are not new. Since 1947, the Punjabi Pakistan Army has been exploiting Pashtun lands and people for their interests. Wazir’s case is not isolated, previous detentions by Pak intelligence and military agencies have taken place, despite being predominantly peaceful members of PTM often face violence from the Punjabi Pakistan Army.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi, was on a two-day visit to Russia. On Monday, Russian President Vladimir Putin warmly welcomed the PM upon his arrival in Russia. The eyes of countries around the world were on this visit. Meanwhile, the friendship between Modi and Putin has become a cause of concern for the United States. In fact, India has good relations with both the US and Russia. However, the tension between the US and Russia is well-known. In such a situation, PM Modi’s camaraderie with the Russian President is not sitting well with the US.

In Russia, PM Modi held an informal meeting with President Vladimir Putin. Immediately after this, the United States expressed concern to India regarding its relations with Russia amid Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine. Foreign Department’s spokesperson Matthew Miller said in a press briefing that they would review Prime Minister Modi’s public remarks to see what he discussed with the Russian President. Furthermore, Matthew Miller stated that the United States has already made it clear that it is concerned about India’s relationship with Russia.

Furthermore, spokesperson Matthew Miller stated that the US hopes that when India or any other country engages with Russia, it will make it clear that Moscow should respect the United Nations Charter and the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine. These statements from the spokesperson clearly indicate that the US is not pleased with the closeness between India and Russia.

US Pressures India to Distance Itself from Russia

Since the war between Russia and Ukraine began in 2022, the US has been consistently pressuring India to distance itself from Russia. India has resisted this pressure, citing its long-term relations with Russia and its economic needs. Despite this, India has called for a peaceful resolution to the ongoing conflict between the two countries. Meanwhile, the US has openly supported Ukraine in this war, providing it with weapons as well.

PM Modi Visits Russia After Nearly 5 Years

For the first time since becoming Prime Minister for the third term, PM Modi visited Russia. This is also his first visit to Russia since the Russia-Ukraine war began. Visiting Russia after nearly 5 years, PM Modi will participate in the 22^nd India-Russia Annual Summit.

Since the invasion of Ukraine, Western countries have pressured India to reconsider its relations with Moscow. Despite this, India has maintained its relations with Russia, emphasizing its long-established ties and economic considerations. Russia is under scrutiny from countries worldwide over the war, but India has remained neutral on the issue. The Indian government has neither condemned nor justified Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

Currently, Western countries are trying to create discord between India, China, and Russia. India’s relationships with both the West and Russia reflect a complex international scenario, where it seeks to balance its interests in this challenging global environment. The West had hoped that India would align with them against Russia, but this has not happened. Despite attempts by the West to pressure India, these efforts have not succeeded. India’s foreign policy is focused on safeguarding its interests without fully siding with any party. It aims to maintain a balance between both sides.

Traders in Pak-occupied-Gilgit-Baltistan (POGB) have initiated a strike, shutting down their businesses in protest against the suspension of trade with China since April. The POGB Importers and Exporters Association and GB Chamber of Commerce and Industries have issued a warning that they will block the Karakoram Highway at Sost if their demands are not met.

At a press conference held at the Gilgit Press Club on Monday, Muhammad Iqbal, president of the POGB Importers and Exporters Association, and Imran Ali, president of the GB Chamber of Commerce, addressed the issue. They said that trade between Pakistan and China through the Khunjerab Pass has been halted since April 1, following a brief reopening after a four-month closure.

The suspension of trade has severely impacted local employment, as residents depend on cross-border trade for their livelihood due to the lack of industries or private sector jobs in the area. Business leaders say that imported goods from China have been stuck at the Sost Dry port since April due to Customs clearance issues.

The traders also felt that the Federal Board of Revenue’s (FBR) policies are responsible for the trade suspension. They argue that income and sales taxes should not apply to imported items for POGB residents, as a border agreement between Pakistan and China exempts POGB residents from taxes on barter trade.

They are demanding a relaxation of these taxes and a 20% land route valuation concession on imported goods, similar to what traders in Quetta and other areas of Pakistan receive.

They said that in China, goods valued at 20,000 yuan are tax-exempt, and they are advocating for the same exemption in POGB. And an introduction of a tax exemption on goods worth up to 20,000 yuan, mirroring a policy in China.

The plight of POGB community is deep as the Pakistan Army of allowing Chinese control over the region to exploit its resources and marginalize the local community for its vested interests and benefits.