KABUL, AFGHANISTAN – Pakistan has deported more than 80,000 Afghans since April 1 as part of its ongoing crackdown on undocumented foreigners, officials confirmed on Friday.
Talal Chaudhry, Pakistan’s State Minister for Interior, said during a press conference that 84,871 Afghans have been expelled this month under the second phase of the “Illegal Foreigners Repatriation Plan.” Of those, only 25,320 held Afghan Citizen Cards (ACC), the rest had no legal documentation.
Since the campaign began in November 2023, a total of 907,351 Afghans have been deported, according to Chaudhry.
Rights groups have condemned the mass expulsions, warning that vulnerable individuals are being put at serious risk.
Taliban authorities have also called for the “dignified” return of Afghan citizens.
The International Organization for Migration (IOM) reported that nearly 60,000 Afghans were deported in the first two weeks of April alone. It warned that the sudden influx is placing severe strain on border areas and return communities in Afghanistan.
Over 1.3 million Afghans holding Proof of Registration (PoR) cards have been ordered to relocate from Islamabad and Rawalpindi.
Chaudhry warned that anyone providing shelter or services to undocumented Afghans will face legal action.
He also confirmed that no further extensions will be granted beyond the current April 30 deadline, adding that only Afghans with valid visas will be permitted to stay.
