Pakistan: Documentary sources on the expulsion of nationals of Algeria, Egypt and Tunisia since 1991 and the reasons why (1991-1997)
| Publisher | Canada: Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada |
| Author | Research Directorate, Immigration and Refugee Board, Canada |
| Publication Date | 1 April 1998 |
| Citation / Document Symbol | PAK29093.E |
| Cite as | Canada: Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada, Pakistan: Documentary sources on the expulsion of nationals of Algeria, Egypt and Tunisia since 1991 and the reasons why (1991-1997), 1 April 1998, PAK29093.E, available at: http://www.refworld.org/docid/3ae6abe768.html [accessed 26 January 2017] |
| Disclaimer | This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States. |
During the 14-year civil war that Afghanistan fought against the former Communist government, which was backed by the Soviet Union, thousands of Arabs went to Pakistan to join the Afghan mujahideen in their battle (Reuters 28 June 1994; DWS 21 Nov. 1995). When the government of Najibullah fell in April 1992 many of those Arab fighters chose to remain in Pakistan (ibid.; Reuters 28 June 1994).
In early 1993 all Arab nationals residing in Pakistan without valid documentation were told by the authorities to leave the country or "face arrest" (Reuters 5 Jan. 1994), and in April 1994 Pakistani authorities "announced a crack down" on all foreigners without proper visas (ibid. 28 June 1994). Following this announcement, a group of approximately 60 Moroccans, Algerians, Tunisians and Egyptians fled to the Khyber valley in the NWFP of Pakistan, where they fought local tribesmen in "sectarian disputes" (ibid.).
According to a spokesman for the Pakistani Foreign Ministry quoted in a 5 January 1994 Reuters report, "Algeria, Egypt and Tunisia have requested Islamabad to expel their militant nationals living in Pakistan." The spokesman stated that the ministry had yet to take a decision on the requests. A 28 June 1994 Reuters report indicated that Saudi Arabia had also pressured Pakistan to expel its "militant nationals."
Further information on the expulsion of Tunisian and/or Algerian nationals by Pakistan could not be found among the sources consulted by the Research Directorate.
In 1994 Pakistan signed an extradition treaty with Egypt and since then, Pakistan has expelled a number of Egyptian nationals, many of whom were suspected of involvement in militant Islamic groups or were suspected terrorists (AP 19 Nov. 1995; Patterns of Global Terrorism 1995 Apr. 1996). The Dawn Wire Service (DWS) corroborates this information stating that Pakistan had extradited eight to ten Egyptian nationals "who were wanted on criminal charges in their home countries" (21 Nov. 1995; ibid. 22 Nov. 1995).
According to a 19 November 1995 AP article, that just recently Egypt had given Pakistan a "list of suspected Islamic terrorists, many belonging to al-Gamma al-Islamiya [The Islamic Group], that it believed were living either in Pakistan or neighboring Afghanistan" (AP 19 Nov. 1995).
On 19 November 1995 Egyptian Islamic militants bombed the Egyptian embassy in Islamabad, wounding no fewer than 59 and killing 15 (AP 19 Nov. 1995; Reuters 19 Nov. 1995). Al-Gamma al-Islamiya, Jihad and the International Justice Group claimed responsibility for the bombing (ibid.; AP 19 Nov. 1995). Jihad claimed that Pakistan had been deliberately targeted in the bombing to teach it a lesson for extraditing Egyptian militants to Egypt (DWS 22 Nov. 1995).
Response to Information Request EGY16699.E of 15 March 1994, available at Regional Documentation Centres, provides brief information on the treatment of Egyptian nationals who have been returned to Egypt after working with Islamic organizations in Pakistan.
This Response was prepared after researching publicly accessible information currently available to the Research Directorate within time constraints. This Response is not, and does not purport to be, conclusive as to the merit of any particular claim to refugee status or asylum. Please find below the list of additional sources consulted in researching this Information Request.
References
The Associated Press (AP). 19 November 1995. AM Cycle. Kathy Gannon. "Powerful Bombs Kill 15 in Attack on Egyptian Embassy." (NEXIS)
Dawn Weekly Service (DWS). 22 November 1995. "Pakistan Was Also a Target, Egyptian Group Says." [Internet] [Accessed 6 Apr. 1998]
_____. 21 November 1995. "Islamabad Blast US Expert to Join Probe." [Internet] [Accessed 6 Apr. 1998]
Reuters. 19 November 1995. "Three Egyptian Groups Claim Pakistan Blast." [Internet] [Accessed 6 Apr. 1998]
_____. 28 June 1994. BC Cycle. "Pakistan Urges Arab Militants to Surrender." (NEXIS)
_____. 5 January 1994. BC Cycle. "Pakistan Asked to Expell North African Nationals." (NEXIS)
US Department of State, Office of the Coordinator for Counterterrorism. April 1996. Patterns of Global Terrorism 1995. [Internet] [Accessed 6 Apr. 1998]
Additional Sources Consulted
Country Reports on Human Rights Practices for 1994. 1995.
Patterns of Global Terrorism. Yearly. 1994-1996. (WWW)
Sackur, Zina. March 1994. Egypt: Islamic Fundamentalist Organisations: The Muslim Brotherhood and the Gama'a al-Islamiya (The Islamic Group).
Electronic sources: Internet, LEXIS/NEXIS.
