(Ottawa) The federal government is urged to intervene amid reports that Pakistan is set to arrest and deport Afghan refugees, many of whom are waiting to come to Canada.
In August 2021, the Liberal government promised to welcome 40,000 Afghans fleeing their country to escape the Taliban, including thousands with ties to Canada.
To date, only some 27,000 Afghan refugees have arrived in Canada, and thousands are still in Pakistan waiting to hear when they can leave.
Some now fear that Pakistan will deport the pending Afghans, hundreds of whom are already allowed to come to Canada, when a special order expires on December 31.
Although Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada says it has received guarantees from Pakistan that Afghans will not be arrested or deported, that remains cold comfort for New Democratic Party (NDP) immigration critic Jenny Kwan. .
As reports circulate about the beginning of a crackdown by Pakistani authorities against Afghans, the NDP argues that the government must put pressure on the country and accelerate its efforts to resettle refugees in Canada.