Afghan Asylum Seekers in the UK and Western Nations Confront High Fees in Unprecedented Policy Shift
Pakistan's move to impose substantial exit fees, amounting to hundreds of dollars, on Afghan refugees fleeing persecution by the Taliban has elicited strong criticism from Western diplomats and the United Nations, deemed as both "shocking and frustrating."
This unprecedented decision specifically targets refugees awaiting departure from Pakistan to Western countries through resettlement programs, imposing a charge of approximately $830 (£660) per individual.
The policy shift follows Pakistan's recent crackdown on undocumented foreigners, coupled with the announcement of a November 1 deadline for approximately 2 million unregistered Afghans to leave the country. Subsequent to the deadline, Pakistan initiated large-scale deportations of undocumented Afghans.
Among those affected are thousands of Afghans lacking proper documentation or possessing expired visas, who have been in Pakistan since the fall of Kabul in August 2021. These individuals, most of whom had collaborated with Western governments and organizations, are eligible for resettlement on humanitarian grounds, awaiting the opportunity to rebuild their lives in Western nations.
The US government has outlined plans to resettle nearly 25,000 Afghans within its borders, while the UK has committed to resettling 20,000 individuals.
According to insights from five senior Western diplomats in Pakistan shared with The Guardian, the imposition of an exit permit fee in Pakistan is regarded as unprecedented on the international stage and has taken diplomats by surprise. Expressing concern, one diplomat commented, "I know it is very tough economically for Pakistan, but really, to try to make money off refugees is really unattractive."
The unusual decision to charge refugees for exit permits has triggered discussions at various levels, with the issue being raised by key UN agencies, including the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR) and the International Organization of Migration (IOM). These concerns have also been conveyed to Pakistani contacts by diplomats representing their respective countries.
During a briefing by Pakistan's interior and foreign ministries, Western officials were informed of the fee, and when objections were raised, they were informed that the initial charge was set at $1,000 per person but had been subsequently reduced to $830.
Expressing frustration, another diplomat questioned the justification for the exit permit fee, stating, "It is very bizarre, and I personally find it very frustrating. If Pakistan wants to facilitate the process of the settlement of refugees in the West, then they should not make it more complicated with such absurd conditions. What is the justification for this exit permit fee? To make a lot of money?"
The payment for the exit permit is mandated to be made through credit cards, a method inaccessible to many Afghan refugees. Highlighting the added challenge, a diplomat remarked, "This makes it worse as it should be paid by refugees and most of them don’t have credit cards. I think we need a cooperative approach of working together to help the refugees, and we expect Pakistan would help."
Mumtaz Zahra Baloch, the spokesperson for Pakistan's foreign ministry, has asserted that there are no intentions to revise the policy. She stated, "These individuals have been here for the last two years, and they are not refugees but immigrants with overstays in their visas and lack of documents. But we expect the concerned countries would expedite the visa and approval process so that they can leave for their destination as early as possible."
Baloch emphasized the need for additional information to facilitate the processing of refugees' resettlement, citing instances where some western countries had provided names without accompanying details. In response, a western diplomat noted, "We are trying to provide information the Pakistani government is asking for, but we have legal restrictions as to how much information we can provide as well."
The UK embassy in Islamabad declined to comment on the exit permit fee.
Babar Baloch, a spokesperson for the UNHCR, stated, "The UNHCR is working with the government of Pakistan to resolve the issue of exit fines and overstay visa fees for refugees in the resettlement programme. The UNHCR advocates with the authorities for the exemption of refugees from these requirements."
He acknowledged the potential anxiety among those who had sought refuge in Pakistan and expressed eagerness to leave the country to begin anew. Highlighting the global significance of resettlement as a mechanism of solidarity, Baloch emphasized its role in providing a lifeline for some of the most vulnerable refugees and asylum seekers.
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