KABUL, AFGHANISTAN – Pakistan’s Prime Minister, Shehbaz Sharif, has authorized a new wave of Afghan refugee deportations, ordering the return of individuals with legal status and those awaiting resettlement in Western countries to Afghanistan.
According to a document obtained by KabulNow, during a cabinet meeting on Wednesday, Sharif directed the relevant authorities to expel individuals without legal documents and those holding the Afghan Citizen Card (ACC) in the first phase.
The document indicates that individuals holding Proof of Registration (PoR) cards will be addressed in a later phase, as they have been granted an extension to remain in the country until 30 June 2025. However, they will still be expelled from Islamabad and Rawalpindi.
Afghan citizens awaiting resettlement to third countries will also be expelled from Islamabad and Rawalpindi by March 31 this year, according to the document.
Sharif has also instructed the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to coordinate with Western embassies in Islamabad to facilitate the relocation of those awaiting resettlement. “Non-compliance with the directive and the set deadlines could lead to arrest and deportation to Afghanistan,” he warned.
The decision has drawn criticism from UN agencies in Pakistan, which described it as “deeply regrettable” for Afghan refugees. In a joint statement, the UNHCR and IOM said they are aware of the difficult situation for Afghans in Pakistan and will continue to engage with Pakistani authorities on the matter. They also requested further clarification on the implementation of the plan.
According to the UN, Pakistan is home to 3.2 million Afghan refugees, with 1.3 million holding PoR cards and over 800,000 possessing other legal statuses, including ACC cards issued in 2017 and 2018, allowing Afghan refugees to remain in the country. More than 600,000 of these refugees arrived after the Taliban’s return to power in August 2021, fearing persecution, with most awaiting resettlement in third countries.
Recently, Pakistan has intensified its refugee crackdown, which began in November 2023, with police raiding refugees’ homes, arresting, detaining, and deporting them back to Afghanistan.
Human rights organizations have condemned Pakistan’s treatment of Afghan refugees and its mass deportation efforts, warning that these actions put an already vulnerable population at further risk. Amnesty International has called on the Pakistani government to fulfill its international obligations, halt the harassment and deportation of Afghan refugees, and end what it described as “discriminatory policies” against Afghan refugees.
