What is the Government Doing to Support Afghan Refugees in Pakistan?

On November 7, 2023, Senator Omidvar asked Senator Gold, the Government Representative in the Senate, about the plight of millions of Afghan refugees currently in Pakistan. Watch:

Hon. Ratna Omidvar: Senator Gold, we’ve all read that the Government of Pakistan is forcing millions of Afghan refugees to return to Afghanistan. This is not just shocking; it’s against international law and puts many lives at risk.

I know there are Afghans who have been accepted into Canada as refugees but haven’t been able to leave Pakistan. Many of them are Hazara minorities. They are now being forced back to Pakistan, which puts them obviously at further risk of persecution by the Taliban.

What is our government doing to ensure these refugees are allowed to exit Pakistan and come to Canada?

Hon. Marc Gold (Government Representative in the Senate): Thank you for your question. The government is very aware of the situation Afghan refugees are facing in Pakistan and continues to monitor it closely.

I’ve been advised that the government is in dialogue with the Government of Pakistan to ensure safe and expedited passage of Canada-bound Afghan refugees. While the government has already met its target of resettling at least 40,000 Afghan refugees to Canada, which is a significant achievement, the government will continue to do everything it can to bring Afghans here and to safety.

Senator Omidvar: I’m encouraged by your statement that the Government of Canada is in dialogue with the Government of Pakistan. The forced return of refugees, also known as refoulement is against international human rights, humanitarian and customary law.

In the conversations with the Government of Pakistan, what is Canada doing to push countries — not just Pakistan but others as well, I imagine — to meet international legal obligations, including the principle of non-refoulement and to stop the crackdown against Afghan refugees?

Senator Gold: Thank you for your question. I do not know the specifics of the conversation, but I am assured that they’re in constant dialogue. Canada’s commitment to international law in its international affairs is well known, and I have every confidence that forms part of those conversations.