The Pakistani government has decided not to extend the March 31 deadline for the expulsion of illegal Afghan immigrants. This decision was made during a high-level meeting at the interior ministry. Officials confirmed that the deadline would be strictly enforced.
Islamabad had previously rejected Afghanistan’s request to extend the stay of Afghan nationals residing illegally in Islamabad and Rawalpindi. Meanwhile, the government has instructed Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s authorities to submit records of Afghan students by March 27. This data will be used to update the Foreign National Security Cell’s system, which tracks foreign residents.
The crackdown on illegal Afghan immigrants is part of Pakistan’s broader security measures. The government has linked the rising terrorist incidents to militant groups operating from Afghanistan. So far, over 878,972 Afghan nationals have returned to their country, as reported by Radio Pakistan.
Amnesty International has urged Pakistan to withdraw its Illegal Foreigners Repatriation Plan. The human rights organization warned that the March 31 deadline would worsen the hardships of Afghan refugees.
Pakistan is currently home to 2.1 million documented Afghan refugees. This includes 1.3 million individuals holding Proof of Registration (PoR) cards. Over 52% of them reside in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, according to UNHCR spokesperson Qaiser Afridi. Additionally, around 800,000 Afghans possess Afghan Citizen Cards (ACC), with most living in the same province.
For nearly five decades, Pakistan has hosted millions of Afghan nationals. While many have voluntarily returned, over 2.1 million remain in the country. The upcoming deadline applies not only to undocumented Afghan migrants but also to those with ACC cards.
Many Afghans in Pakistan were born in the country and have never visited Afghanistan. The looming deadline has sparked anxiety, especially during the holy month of Ramadan. Peshawar hosts the largest number of Afghan nationals, with thousands engaged in businesses or employment. They live in various urban and rural areas alongside locals.
The government had initially set an October 31, 2023, deadline for unregistered foreigners. Following that, a significant number of undocumented Afghan nationals left for Afghanistan through Torkham and other border crossings. Special camps were established in Chamkani, Nowshera, and other districts to assist those returning voluntarily.
As the March 31 deadline approaches, Pakistani authorities remain firm on enforcing the policy. Many illegal Afghan immigrants now face uncertainty, with thousands still residing in different parts of the country.
