US committed to relocate all Afghan refugees by September 2025: Pakistan’s Foreign Office
Pakistan’s Foreign Office announced on Thursday that the United States has agreed to resettle all Afghan refugees currently in Pakistan by September 2025. However, it noted that Washington has not yet officially communicated with Pakistan about the new administration’s decision to suspend the Afghan refugee settlement plan.
Meanwhile, the U.S. State Department previously stated that under an executive order by Donald Trump, the U.S. refugee admission program has been suspended until further notice.
Shafqat Ali Khan, a spokesperson for the Pakistani Ministry of Foreign Affairs, reacted to the suspension of the U.S. immigration program on Thursday, January 23. He mentioned, “We have not officially received any new information regarding this matter (program suspension). Therefore, as far as we are concerned, the agreement still stands.”
During a press conference, the Pakistani Foreign Ministry criticized the slow pace of transferring Afghan refugees to the U.S. and called for expedited processes. According to data provided by the U.S. Embassy last year, around 25,000 Afghan refugees and migrants eligible for relocation to the U.S. are currently residing in Pakistan. Over the past year, hundreds of Afghan refugee families have been transferred to the U.S.
Thousands of other Afghan refugees eligible for relocation remain in limbo, facing severe economic, security, and psychological challenges, as well as fears of arrest and deportation while living in Pakistan.
In light of the suspension, the U.S. State Department clarified that all planned refugee travel to the U.S. has been canceled, except for holders of the Special Immigrant Visa (SIV). This policy underscores the selective nature of the current U.S. immigration approach.
Trump’s decision to pause foreign aid and refugee programs for 90 days to reassess their alignment with U.S. national interests has added uncertainty for thousands of Afghan refugees. While the SIV program remains active, the suspension highlights the broader challenges of balancing humanitarian commitments with domestic political priorities.
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