Pakistan, UK Discuss Fast-Tracking Relocation of Afghan Refugees

DID Press: Senior officials from Pakistan and the United Kingdom have held talks in Islamabad focusing on security cooperation, migration management, and in particular the acceleration of the relocation of Afghan refugees to the UK, amid growing concerns over the fate of thousands awaiting resettlement in Pakistan.

Talal Chaudhry, Pakistan’s Minister of State for Interior, met with Baroness Chapman, the UK Foreign Office Minister, to discuss a range of security, migration, and Afghanistan-related issues. A key agenda item was reviewing delays and challenges in the transfer of Afghan refugees eligible for resettlement in Britain.

According to Pakistani media, both sides emphasized strengthening bilateral cooperation on migration management, combating human trafficking, and promoting regional stability. Pakistani officials urged London to speed up relocation processes, as the UK Home Office has reportedly rejected asylum applications of more than 6,000 Afghans, including 367 women and girls residing in Pakistan, by the end of June this year.

Concerns have intensified against the backdrop of a data breach in February 2022, when a UK Ministry of Defence employee leaked information that reportedly put around 100,000 Afghan partners of British forces at risk. Thousands of Afghans awaiting relocation to the UK now remain in Pakistan in legal and humanitarian limbo.

Meanwhile, Pakistan Today reported that the British official’s visit comes as UK–Pakistan relations reach unprecedented levels, with bilateral trade exceeding £5.5 billion and more than 200 British companies operating in Pakistan, contributing to economic growth in both countries.

Baroness Chapman described Pakistan as a “vital partner” for the UK, stating: “We are working together to tackle the drivers of organized crime and irregular migration, making both our countries safer.”