Kabul, Feb 13 (NationPress) Ataullah Omari, the Minister of Agriculture, Irrigation, and Livestock in Afghanistan, has criticized neighboring countries for their ongoing practice of deporting Afghan refugees. He emphasized that their actions violate humanitarian principles, human rights, and refugee rights, according to local media reports from Friday.

Omari noted that over 4.5 million Afghan refugees have been forced to return to Afghanistan from various countries since the commencement of the expulsion process, as reported by Tolo News. He expressed, "Our brothers were forcibly expelled from their homes after being hosted for nearly 40 years, only to be deported under coercive circumstances, in clear violation of humanitarian principles."

This statement arises amidst ongoing deportations of Afghan refugees by Pakistan and Iran, raising concerns regarding Afghanistan's ability to resettle these returnees. Some recently deported refugees recounted that they were not allowed to bring their belongings, leaving everything behind in the host countries.

Earlier in January, numerous Afghan refugees residing in Pakistan appealed to both the Pakistani government and Afghan authorities for dialogue to address the current challenges and to allow them sufficient time to return to Afghanistan with dignity, as per local media sources.

These refugees indicated that the swift deportations and increasing pressure have resulted in severe difficulties for Afghan residents. Haji Nazar, an Afghan refugee, urged the Pakistani government to provide a three-month period for them to return to Afghanistan in an organized manner.

"The Pakistani government should grant us a three-month deadline, allowing refugees to return to their homeland in an orderly and phased manner. Currently, Afghans are facing numerous challenges," Tolo News reported Nazar as saying.

In an interview with Tolo News, refugee rights advocate Allah Mir Miakhail noted, "Security forces are apprehending and deporting Afghan refugees indiscriminately. Most refugees require time to settle their business and personal affairs. Many families possess Proof of Registration (PoR) cards, which have since become invalid."

Activists advocating for refugee rights stressed that the return process must be voluntary, gradual, and supported by international organizations to avert a new humanitarian disaster in Afghanistan. Another activist, Ali Reza Karimi, pointed out that many Afghan refugees have been stripped of basic human rights and are living in uncertainty due to the absence of legal and valid identity documents.