KABUL, AFGHANISTAN – Pakistan has reiterated its firm stance on the March 31 deadline for Afghan Citizen Card (ACC) holders and undocumented Afghan refugees to leave the country, dismissing calls from the UN and human rights groups to reconsider the decision.
During a press briefing on Thursday, Shafqat Ali Khan, spokesperson for Pakistan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, said the government’s position remains unchanged and urged ACC holders and undocumented Afghan refugees to leave voluntarily before forced deportations begin.
Khan also dismissed concerns raised by the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) and other agencies regarding the mass repatriation of Afghan refugees and asylum-seekers.
“We are not bound to consult UNHCR. First of all, Pakistan is not a member of the Refugee Convention,” Khan said. “Anything we have done for the Afghan refugees was done voluntarily for the past 50 years.”
He added, “With regards to international obligations, we have fulfilled more than our share by offering this kind of hospitality to Afghans. But they should have Pakistani visas on their passports — and then they will be more than welcome.”
The March 31 deadline applies to undocumented Afghans and those holding the ACC — a temporary document issued to unregistered Afghan nationals in Pakistan. Beginning in April, authorities are expected to launch large-scale deportation operations, as warned by Pakistan’s Ministry of Interior last month.
Another deadline, June 30, looms for an estimated 1.3 million Afghans holding the Proof of Registration (PoR) card — a document jointly issued by the Pakistani government and UNHCR that grants legal stay to Afghan refugees. After that, even registered refugees could face deportation.
The UNHCR and the International Organization for Migration (IOM) have repeatedly urged Pakistan to reconsider its mass repatriation plan. In a joint statement issued in February, UNHCR Representative Philippa Candler praised Pakistan’s long-standing generosity but warned of the risks facing returnees.
“Pakistan has a proud tradition of hosting refugees, saving millions of lives. This generosity is greatly appreciated,” Candler said. “Forced return to Afghanistan could place some people at increased risk. We urge Pakistan to continue to provide safety to Afghans at risk, irrespective of their documentation status.”
Human Rights Watch (HRW) also urged Pakistan to halt deportations, citing the risk of persecution under the Taliban, economic hardships, and the crumbling healthcare system in Afghanistan. HRW warned that the mass deportations could violate international laws, including the UN Convention Against Torture, which prohibits returning individuals to countries where they may face mistreatment.
Pakistan began deporting undocumented Afghans in November 2023, a campaign that has intensified in recent months, particularly in major cities such as Islamabad and Rawalpindi. According to the UN, nearly one million Afghans—out of an estimated 3.7 million—have either been deported or left voluntarily, returning to a Taliban-ruled Afghanistan grappling with human rights challenges and a deepening humanitarian crisis.
