Pakistan plans to deport three million Afghans nationals this year as the deadline for their voluntary departure from the capital and surrounding areas ended on Monday.
This move is part of a broader crackdown that began in October 2023 to remove undocumented foreigners, primarily Afghans, from the country. The initiative has faced criticism from human rights organizations, the Taliban government, and the United Nations.
While authorities initially planned to start arrests and deportations on April 1, the process has been postponed until April 10 due to the Eid al-Fitr holidays, according to government documents reviewed by media.
Over the past 18 months, approximately 845,000 Afghans have left Pakistan, according to data from the International Organization for Migration. Currently, an estimated three million Afghans remain in the country. Among them, 1,344,584 possess Proof of Registration (PoR) cards, 807,402 hold Afghan Citizen Cards, and around one million lack any legal documentation. Pakistan has stated that once deported, these individuals will not be allowed to return.
Authorities required Afghan Citizen Cardholders to leave Islamabad and Rawalpindi by March 31, either voluntarily or through deportation. Meanwhile, PoR cardholders can remain in Pakistan until June 30. Afghans awaiting resettlement in third countries were also ordered to leave Islamabad and Rawalpindi by March 31.
Pakistan has pledged to collaborate with foreign diplomatic missions to facilitate the resettlement of Afghan refugees. However, if these efforts fail, affected individuals will also face deportation.
Following the Taliban’s return to power in 2021, tens of thousands of Afghans sought refuge in Pakistan, with many approved for U.S. resettlement due to their work with American entities, media, aid organizations, and human rights groups. However, with former U.S. President Donald Trump pausing refugee admissions in January, 20,000 Afghans now find themselves in limbo. The Taliban insists that returning refugees should be treated with dignity.
One official document regarding the expulsion plan stated that “no Afghan officials will be involved in any committee or formal decision-making process.” Afghanistan’s Refugee Ministry spokesman, Abdul Mutalib Haqqani, criticized Pakistan for making unilateral decisions without consulting the Taliban government or the UN refugee agency.
“We have conveyed our concerns, explaining that expelling refugees without coordination is not in the interest of either country,” Haqqani said. “Such actions only fuel resentment against Pakistan. For us, managing such a large influx of returnees is challenging. We have requested a structured deportation process to ensure their dignified return.”
To facilitate deportations, Pakistan will establish two transit centers in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province—one in Nasir Bagh, near Peshawar, and another in Landi Kotal, about 7 km from the Torkham border crossing.
Uncertainty looms over Afghan families living in Pakistan, especially for children born there, mixed-nationality couples, and households where one parent holds Pakistani citizenship while the other is Afghan. Authorities have indicated that social welfare officials will assist with such cases.
Omaid Khan, 30, holds an Afghan Citizen Card, while his wife possesses a PoR card. Under Pakistan’s policy, he must leave immediately, while his wife can stay until June 30. Their two children, however, lack any official documentation from either country.
Similarly, 21-year-old Nazir Ahmed, born in Quetta, has never been to Afghanistan. His only connection to the country was through his father, who passed away in Quetta four years ago.
“How can we go to Afghanistan when we have no ties there?” he asked. “All our relatives are in Quetta. If we are sent away, what will we do? We appeal to the Pakistani government to grant us some time so we can at least secure employment before leaving.”
