Pakistan has once again made it clear that Afghan nationals residing in the country without valid visas will be sent back, as the government moves to enforce its repatriation policy without further concessions.
Chairing a high-level meeting on Friday, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif emphasized that the process would continue until every undocumented Afghan national is repatriated, saying the government “will not allow anyone to give refuge or shelter to Afghan nationals.”
Pakistan reiterates firm stance on repatriation of Afghan nationals living without visas, reflecting Islamabad’s growing frustration over the long-standing burden of hosting millions of Afghans for decades. “People ask until when the government will continue dealing with the burden of Afghan refugees,” said PM Shehbaz, as he underscored the need to restore control over Pakistan’s immigration and security environment.
The meeting, attended by Chief of Army Staff Field Marshal Asim Munir, the chief ministers of Punjab, Sindh, Balochistan, and Gilgit-Baltistan, as well as top federal officials, reviewed the progress of the ongoing repatriation plan. However, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Sohail Afridi did not attend the session.
Officials briefed the country’s leadership that over 1.47 million Afghan nationals have already returned since the phased repatriation began. The government has decided that only Afghans holding valid visas will be permitted to stay in Pakistan. To expedite the process, additional exit points along the Pakistan-Afghanistan border are being established, while provinces have been instructed to ensure complete implementation of repatriation directives.
The meeting further resolved that no individual or organization would be allowed to provide shelter, accommodation, or employment to Afghan nationals without legal documentation. Authorities also plan to involve local communities to strengthen monitoring and enforcement measures.
Expressing grave concern, PM Shehbaz said Pakistan could no longer ignore the involvement of Afghan nationals in acts of terrorism within the country. “Pakistan hosted millions of Afghan refugees for decades, yet many have used our land and hospitality to harm our people,” he said. The prime minister reminded attendees that Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar and senior officials had earlier visited Kabul to urge the Taliban regime to prevent terrorist groups from operating on Afghan soil — a demand that remains unmet.
The premier reaffirmed that the repatriation drive would continue until all illegal residents are returned to Afghanistan, describing it as a necessary step to protect Pakistan’s sovereignty, national security, and internal stability.
