Pakistan has urged Afghan refugees holding Afghan Citizen Cards to leave the country by the end of this month. The decision comes amid increasing security concerns and cross-border attacks.
Islamabad has often linked militant activities and crimes to Afghan nationals. They make up the largest migrant group in Pakistan. The Interior Ministry reaffirmed that Pakistan has always acted responsibly and honored its commitments as a host country. However, it emphasized that all individuals residing in the country must follow legal requirements.
In 2023, Pakistan launched a repatriation campaign targeting undocumented foreign nationals. Most of them were Afghan refugees without legal documents. The process has now expanded to include those with Afghan Citizen Cards.
According to UN statistics, over 800,000 Afghans in Pakistan hold an Afghan Citizen Card. Additionally, about 1.3 million are officially registered with the government under a separate proof of residence system. Since the repatriation drive began, more than 800,000 Afghans have returned to their homeland. Pakistan was home to approximately 2.8 million Afghan nationals, many of whom had fled due to decades of conflict.
Among the affected individuals are thousands of Afghans awaiting resettlement in the United States and other Western nations. They were evacuated following the Taliban takeover of Afghanistan in 2021. The repatriation of Afghan refugees remains a pressing issue, as Pakistan continues to tighten its immigration policies.
