Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Minister of State, Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, whether he has had recent discussions with his Pakistani counterpart on (a) the principle of non-refoulement and (b) its other obligations under international human rights law in the context of the treatment of Afghan refugees.

The UK Government is working with the UN Refugee Agency and other international organisations to monitor the return of Afghans from Pakistan, including the humanitarian and human rights implications. We regularly raise human rights at the highest levels with the Government of Pakistan. The Foreign Secretary met with Pakistan's Caretaker Foreign Minister on 30 November 2023 and received assurances towards the safety of Afghans who are eligible for UK resettlement under the Afghan Relocations and Assistance Policy (ARAP) and Afghan Citizens Resettlement Scheme (ACRS) schemes. Since September, we have committed £18.5 million to the International Organisation for Migration in Afghanistan to support undocumented returnees.