KABUL, AFGHANISTAN – Pakistan’s Ministry of Interior has called on the remaining undocumented foreigners, including Afghan nationals, to leave the country voluntarily or face deportation.
As reported by Pakistani media, the ministry has announced plans to intensify its deportation campaign under the “Illegal Foreigners Repatriation Program,” launched in October 2023.
Since the program’s inception, over 1.1 million people have been repatriated, with more than 216,000 individuals deported in the past two months alone, according to the report.
The ministry has also warned that anyone found helping undocumented foreigners—by employing them, offering accommodation, or conducting business with them—will face legal action.
This comes as UN agencies, along with numerous international rights groups and activists, have criticized the forced deportation of Afghan refugees and repeatedly urged Islamabad to halt the process. They argue that conditions in Afghanistan under Taliban rule are not suitable for safe and dignified returns.
The UN estimates that nearly 23 million people in Afghanistan require humanitarian assistance, and women and girls continue to face severe restrictions on their rights and freedoms.
Rights groups also warn that returnees, especially former officials, journalists, and activists, may face retaliation, detention, or abuse by the Taliban.
Meanwhile, Neighboring Iran is also carrying out large-scale deportations of Afghans. Authorities there have said they intend to return up to two million Afghan nationals by the end of the year.
