UK to Expedite Relocating Afghans Amid Fears of Deportation in Pakistan

UK diplomats have warned the Rishi Sunak government that Afghan refugees in Pakistan could not be protected from detention and deportation if the relocation process was not stepped up.

The process has significantly slowed down since November 2022 after the British government stopped chartering flights from Pakistan to bring applicants eligible under the Afghan Relocation and Assistance Policy (ARAP) to safety, according to the Independent. The government also demanded refugees to find their own housing in the UK before traveling, which further hindered the process. Between January and November 2022, an average number of 385 people were taken to the UK on charter flights. In the next three months, only 56 people were relocated via commercial flights.