The evacuation of their citizens from Kabul has become a nightmare for many countries, especially the USA, as the time limit to complete the operation is to end on Tuesday night. While the USA has airlifted roughly 105,000 by Friday, thousands still remain stranded in Afghanistan. Tens of thousands of Afghans who worked with the USA are yet to be brought out of the country.
Pakistan has been asked to accept thousands of transit passengers that include US diplomats and citizens, Afghan nationals and those who carry the passports of several other countries. As this will entail hosting them for several days, arrangements have been made with hotels in Islamabad and Karachi which have been asked to stop taking new reservations for 21 days. Around 3,000 to 4,000 evacuees will reportedly be accommodated in Islamabad and Rawalpindi hotels. Those who cannot find a room will be transferred to marquees. Around 2,000 diplomats and Afghan citizens who supported the US and allied forces during the war with the Taliban will be sent to Karachi before their departure to the USA.
The Interior Minister has meanwhile announced the issuing of 21-day transit visas at the Islamabad airport and Torkham border crossing to all foreigners coming from Afghanistan especially members of NGOs, delegates and journalists
While it is a good humanitarian gesture to allow transit facility to thousands of people desperately wanting to exit from Kabul, it is also a big gamble that can cost the country heavily if necessary measures are not taken. Pakistan has to ensure the foreigners’ security as long as they remain in the country. As the deadly IS attack in Kabul shows, the terrorists are out to spread anarchy in the region. Any major terrorist attack on the evacuees would damage Pakistan’s reputation. Afghanistan has been badly affected by Covid-19. All those who are allowed to enter the country should be thoroughly checked and those found positive should be immediately quarantined.
As UNHCR urges Afghanistan’s neighbours to keep borders open for fleeing Afghans, Pakistan needs to stick to its policy of not allowing any refugees inside its territory. It should call on international agencies to make arrangements to keep displaced Afghans inside their country instead of pushing them into Pakistan.
