UK scrutiny on Pakistan amid asylum crackdown

WEB DESK: The United Kingdom has intensified its efforts to curb what it describes as “asylum abuse” by imposing visa restrictions on certain nationalities, prompting fresh questions over why Pakistan has so far escaped similar measures despite topping the list of asylum applicants.

According to Dawn News, Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood recently announced an unprecedented “emergency brake” on visas for nationals from Afghanistan, Cameroon, Myanmar, and Sudan. Sponsored study visas for these countries have been halted, along with skilled worker visas for Afghans, in response to a sharp rise in asylum claims from individuals entering via legal routes.

High asylum numbers from legal entries

Pakistan now accounts for the largest share of asylum applications in the UK, with official figures showing 10,638 claims in 2024 nearly double the previous year’s total and surpassing those from Eritrea, Iran, and Afghanistan. Many Pakistani nationals enter Britain on student, work, or visitor visas before lodging asylum claims.

A significant proportion of these applications over 70 per cent are rejected, yet the return rate remains strikingly low. In 2025, while 10,853 Pakistani claims were refused, only 445 individuals were deported, equating to roughly 4.1 per cent of rejected cases, or about one in 25.

Sources from both the Pakistani and British governments indicate that Islamabad is cooperating on repatriations, which may explain why Pakistan has avoided the visa bans applied to the four other nations. Discussions between the two sides are ongoing, and Pakistan’s willingness to work with UK authorities is seen as a factor in the current approach.

Political pressure and warnings of further action

The disparity has sparked debate in Westminster. Shadow home secretary Chris Philp labelled the removal rate “pathetic” and pointed to a 2022 returns agreement signed under the previous government. He called for drastic reductions in visas issued to Pakistani nationals and even advocated exiting the European Convention on Human Rights to facilitate deportations.

In response to direct questions about Pakistan’s exclusion from the visa restrictions, Ms Mahmood emphasised that the recent measures mark “the beginning and not the end” of government action in this area. She declined to confirm whether talks on potential sanctions with other countries, including Pakistan, were under way.

British officials have warned that nations failing to cooperate on accepting deported nationals could face penalties, such as the suspension of priority visa services or wider restrictions on tourists, students, and workers. The Home Office has stressed that while the UK remains committed to offering refuge to those fleeing persecution, the immigration system must not be exploited.

The developments highlight growing concerns over the misuse of legal visa pathways and the challenges of enforcing returns, as the government seeks to restore control over Britain’s borders.