Afghan Voice Agency (AVA) - International Service: In a message on his X page, Imran Khan said: "1.5 million immigrants are not a heavy burden for a nation of 250 million people." According to the method of expelling Afghan immigrants, there is a fear of a permanent gap in the long-standing relations between the two countries.

 

In October, Pakistan had given a one-month deadline for all undocumented foreigners to leave by November 1 or face forced deportation.

 

Afghanistan, the United Nations, Amnesty International and other organizations have opposed Islamabad's decision to expel the migrants, saying that the return should be voluntary and without any pressure.

 

Khan said that Pakistan and Afghanistan are brotherly and neighboring countries whose people have centuries-old relations. He added that trustful relations between neighbors are the guarantor of Pakistan's safe future.

 

Khan wrote: "Pakistan has been hosting Afghan refugees for 40 years, but the fruits of this many years of hospitality are wasted only because of a weak strategy."

 

He warned that the forced deportation of immigrants may lead to a permanent gap in relations between neighboring countries.

 

Khan called on the Pakistani government to review the policy and adopt a "respectful" strategy to repatriate Afghan refugees.

 

More than 450,000 Afghan immigrants have returned to the country so far following the announcement of the plan to deport illegal immigrants by Pakistan.