Washington ‘working closely’ with Islamabad over Afghans waiting for US visas

US State Department spokesman Matthew Miller said Tuesday Washington is in close and constant communication with Islamabad over the 25,000 Afghans in Pakistan who are waiting for their US visas.

“So we are in close and constant communication with the Government of Pakistan on the safety of individuals in the U.S. pipeline. It is our desire to work in good faith with the Government of Pakistan to address any concerns that it may have.

“Our key concern is the safety of the vulnerable and at-risk individuals. We believe it is in both our countries’ interest to ensure the safe and efficient resettlement of refugees and asylum seekers. And we join all of our partners in urging all countries, including Pakistan, to uphold their respective obligations in the treatment of refugees and asylum seekers, and strongly encourage all of Afghanistan’s neighbors to allow entry for Afghans seeking international protection, and coordinate with international humanitarian organizations to provide humanitarian assistance,” he said.

Meanwhile the International Organization for Migration (IOM), together with humanitarian partners, are delivering a range of critical aid at border crossing points between Pakistan and Afghanistan in response to the hundreds of thousands of forcibly returned Afghans.

According to IOM, nearly 375,000 Afghans have left Pakistan in the past two months primarily through the Torkham and Spin Boldak border crossings.

IOM noted that the number of border crossings has dramatically increased from 200 daily to 17,000 since Pakistan’s Illegal Foreigners’ Repatriation Plan set a November 1 deadline for the “voluntary return” of all undocumented Afghans in Pakistan to their country of origin.

Critical aid including shelter, water, sanitation, essential household items, healthcare, protection and nutrition services, as well as cash to cover basic needs, transportation and food is being provided by the IOM-led border consortium.