The repatriation of Afghan refugees in Pakistan who are residing illegally has officially begun today (Tuesday). The deadline for voluntary return ended on March 31, and authorities have now started sending undocumented Afghans back to their homeland.
According to sources in the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Home Department, the process of returning Afghan refugees in Pakistan has started from April 1. The federal government had earlier rejected any extension to the deadline despite appeals from the Taliban administration in Afghanistan.
Authorities also requested records of Afghan students in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa by March 27. This data will be used to update the Foreign National Security Cell’s dashboard, which tracks foreign nationals in the country.
The policy to deport illegal Afghan nationals is part of Pakistan’s broader security measures. The government has repeatedly blamed terrorist activities on militant groups operating from Afghan soil. So far, 878,972 Afghan refugees in Pakistan have already left, according to Radio Pakistan.
However, Amnesty International has criticized Pakistan’s repatriation policy. The organization called the plan “opaque” and urged Islamabad to withdraw it. In a statement, Amnesty warned that the March 31 deadline would increase hardships for Afghan nationals facing forced return.
Pakistan currently hosts 2.1 million documented Afghans, along with hundreds of thousands of undocumented individuals. According to UNHCR spokesperson Qaiser Afridi, 1.3 million Afghan refugees hold Proof of Registration (PoR) cards, with over 52% residing in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. Additionally, 800,000 Afghans have received ACC cards, most of whom also live in KP.
For nearly five decades, Pakistan has sheltered millions of Afghan refugees in Pakistan. Many have returned home in recent years, but over 2.1 million remain across KP and other provinces. Authorities set the March 31 deadline for both undocumented Afghans and those with ACC cards to leave the country.
A significant number of Afghan nationals were born in Pakistan and have never visited Afghanistan. As the repatriation process accelerates, many are worried about their future, especially during the holy month of Ramadan.
Peshawar has the highest number of Afghan refugees in Pakistan compared to other cities. Many of them have businesses or jobs and have lived in urban, suburban, and rural areas for decades.
In 2023, Pakistan had set an earlier deadline of October 31 for unregistered foreigners. Thousands of undocumented Afghans returned home through Torkham and other border crossings. Special camps were also established in Chamkani, Nowshera, and other districts to facilitate their voluntary departure.
