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Reactions over Pakistan’s forced deportations of Afghan immigrants
The forced deportation of Afghan immigrants from Pakistan has faced various reactions across the country.
Residents of Balkh, Jawzjan and Sar-e-Pul provinces condemn the expulsion of Afghan immigrants from Pakistan, asking Islamabad to stop this process and let Afghan immigrants leave this country gradually.
Pakistan's action to forcibly deport Afghan immigrants has triggered the anger of Afghan citizens.
"Pakistan has violated international law with this action. Now that the immigrants are returning from Pakistan, we appreciate and welcome them,” said Nawed, a resident of Balkh.
In the meantime, with the arrival of the cold season, another concern is that the migrants will face serious challenges and need cooperation.
"The cold season is approaching and life is getting difficult, and we ask the government to take care of the migrants,” said Ziba Aminyan, a resident of Balkh.
Residents of Jawzjan and Sar-e-Pul provinces also said that they are ready to cooperate with the returnees.
"We ask the aid organizations and the Islamic Emirate to provide work, clothes, food and shelter for the returnees,” said Ghulam Sakhi Frootan, said Sar-e-Pul resident.
"The forced deportation of immigrants from Pakistan is an un-Islamic and inhumane act and is against the culture of neighborliness. I request all my compatriots to stand by their deported compatriots in this difficult situation and ask them to support them in every way and stand beside them,” said Juma Khan, a resident of Jawzjan.
Simultaneously, Balkh province's directorate of refugees said that they are prepared to deal with returning migrants from Pakistan.
"For all returning migrants, we assure them that the Islamic Emirate is at their service and provides them with work and shelter,” said Asadullah Wafa, head of Balkh's migrant affairs.
The process of forced deportation of immigrants has also faced international reactions, from the United Nations to other human rights institutions. Everyone has clearly said that Pakistan should stop the current process of deportation.
Although the residents of the northeastern provinces of the country welcome the return of Afghan immigrants from Pakistan, they consider Pakistan's policy towards immigrants a wrong, inhumane and hasty.
"The Islamic Emirate should provide shelter for the returnees because they are Afghans and should return to Afghanistan,” said Abbas, a resident of Takhar.
"Afghanistan is currently safe. I ask the Afghan immigrants to return to their country,” said Safan, a resident of Takhar.
Residents of the Northeast ask people to help the immigrants who return from Pakistan with coordination, like they gave a handful of hands to the Herat earthquake victims, so that they do not feel indifferent in their homeland.
"We are asking the current government of Afghanistan to create jobs for the immigrants, and just as they took the hands of the Herat earthquake victims, now is the time to take the hands of the immigrants,” said Dawood Ahmadi, a resident of Takhar.
"Pakistan has imposed a restriction on Afghan immigrants that they can only carry 50,000 Pakistani rupees with them when they return,” said Ahmadullah, a resident of Takhar.
The residents of Kunduz and Badakhshan provinces welcome the return of the migrants and call on the IEA and aid institutions to cooperate with them.
In Herat, the residents have also reacted to the wave of deportations of Afghan immigrants from Pakistan. They say that in a situation where the neighboring countries need to be more humble with the Afghan people and help them, they make the current crisis in the country worse.
Some experts also say that the process of deporting Afghan immigrants from Pakistan deepens the humanitarian crisis in Afghanistan. It is necessary for the interim administration of Pakistan to show flexibility and deal with the Afghan immigrant community in accordance with international conventions.
One month ago, the government of Pakistan announced that it would deport illegal immigrants from the country, now this process has officially started.
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Mujahid says IEA stands with media outlets
The Islamic Emirate’s spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid says the acting government is committed to supporting media outlets and they can operate within the framework of Islamic Sharia and national interests.
Marking World Television Day on Thursday, November 21, Mujahid said: “The Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan supports the media in general. Media can operate within the framework of Islamic Sharia and national interests.”
“As far as we are able, we cooperate with the media and the Afghan media currently have publications and they are broadcasting their publications well,” he added.
The United Nations General Assembly named November 21 as World Television Day in 1996.
“Since IEA’s takeover, of 184 national and local televisions, 57 television stations were shut down due to economic problems,” said Hojatullah Mujadadi, the head of Afghanistan Free Journalists' Association (AFJU).
Currently, about 370 visual, audio and print media are active in the country.
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Baradar says water crisis has negatively impacted relations between nations
Baradar expressed regret that although Afghanistan has vast water resources, effective and professional management has not been carried out in this area.
Deputy Prime Minister for Economic Affairs, Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar, said on Thursday that the ongoing water crisis in the country has not only made neighboring countries face the problem of water scarcity, but it has also had a negative impact on political and economic relations between Afghanistan and these countries.
Speaking at a seminar held by the Ministry of Energy and Water, Baradar said that although water is a renewable natural resource, the shortage of water due to climate change, the increase in the level of water pollution, the growing demand of the people and its excessive consumption affects the country.
He expressed regret that although Afghanistan has vast water resources, effective and professional management has not been carried out in this area.
“It is now the responsibility of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan to fulfill its national duty for the optimal management of the country’s water resource,” Baradar said.
“With firm determination, we aim to use all available means to ensure sustainable development in water management.”
Last month, the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) also warned that Afghanistan is experiencing a severe water crisis, and if no action is taken, Kabul’s underground water resources could be depleted by 2030.
In a message on X, UNICEF reported that Roza Otunbayeva, head of the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA), and Tajudeen Oyewale, head of UNICEF Afghanistan, visited a Kabul district to assess the city's water supply network.
Both officials expressed concern over the worsening water shortage problem in the capital.
"Water is life," UNICEF stated, emphasizing that rapid urbanization and climate change are accelerating the depletion of groundwater in Kabul.
“If we don't act now, we cannot stop this process."
The rapid population growth, unplanned construction of high-rise buildings, urban development without proper planning, and the excessive use of underground water resources are major factors contributing to the decline in both the quantity and quality of groundwater in Kabul.
Although Kabul has faced water shortages for years, the crisis has become more severe in recent times.
However, the Islamic Emirate is making concerted efforts to resolve the problem and thwart the crisis.
Three weeks ago, the office of the Deputy Prime Minister for Economic Affairs, said in a statement that plans to construct a total of 355 water reservoirs across the country were being implemented.
According to the statement, of the 355 dams, a number of them have already been completed and inaugurated while others are under construction.
Of these reservoirs, 138 are being constructed by the Ministry of Agriculture, Irrigation, and Livestock; 117 by the Ministry of Water and Energy; and 100 by the Ministry of Rural Rehabilitation and Development.
All of these dams are being funded by the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan, the statement read.
The reservoirs are being constructed in numerous provinces to manage rainwater, prevent flooding, strengthen groundwater levels and for use by communities.
Iran’s water share
Late last year, Iranian Energy Minister Ali Akbar Mehrabian warned that if Afghanistan does not ensure Tehran receives its rightful amount of water from Helmand River, Iran will use legal and international means to resolve the problem.
Mehrabian stressed that Helmand River water is Iran's indisputable right, and that Iran takes the matter seriously.
“Water right is Iran's right and it is necessary to release it. Ensuring water rights is not optional, but it is mandatory based on the international treaty of 1351. Pursuing this matter is Iran's absolute right and we will not fail in this regard. The recent rains should cause the release of our water, and if not, we will take serious action based on international laws,” stressed Mehrabian.
At the time, the Islamic Emirate said it was committed to providing Iran with water from the Helmand River but due to drought, there is not enough water in the river to give Iran its share.
The Helmand River Water Treaty was signed between Afghanistan and Iran in 1973, according to which Iran has the right to receive 850 million cubic meters of water from Afghanistan annually.
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Pakistan rejects suggestion of appointing a new special envoy for Afghanistan
Islamabad however continues to accuse Afghanistan of providing safe havens to militant groups that target Pakistan, including Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP).
Pakistan’s Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Mumtaz Zahra Baloch has dismissed rumors that Islamabad is considering appointing a new special representative for Afghanistan.
Baloch said on Thursday that there was no truth in these reports but that special envoys for Afghanistan from Russia and China had recently visited Pakistan and met with officials.
In August, Pakistan dismissed its special envoy to Afghanistan, Asif Durrani, and has not yet appointed a replacement.
Addressing a weekly briefing on Thursday, Baloch also raised the issue of militant groups in Afghanistan.
She also announced the latest data on Afghan refugees and said so far this year, Pakistan has expelled almost 800,000 undocumented migrants from the neighboring country.
She said the process still continues to ensure a "successful and smooth return" of illegal Afghan nationals.
"Since November 2023 to October 2024, so far 757,008 undocumented Afghans were sent back to Afghanistan," Baloch said, adding that the figure also includes those who returned voluntarily.
According to UN figures, some 1.3 million Afghans are registered refugees in Pakistan, while another 880,000 have legal status to stay.
Pakistan started its crackdown on all foreigners living in the country illegally late last year.
According to Islamabad, the rise in militant attacks led them to making this decision.
Islamabad however continues to accuse Afghanistan of providing safe havens to militant groups that target Pakistan, including Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP).
This claim has repeatedly been rejected by the Islamic Emirate, who state they will not allow any group to use Afghan soil against another country.
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