Islamabad: The Pakistani government has completed arrangements to detain and deport undocumented Afghan nationals following the March 31 deadline for voluntary repatriation.
Earlier this year, the government had ordered Afghan Citizen Card (ACC) holders to leave Pakistan by the end of March or face deportation. Despite calls from international human rights organizations to reconsider this decision, the government remains firm on proceeding with the repatriation process.
A high-level meeting was convened on Friday, three days before the deadline, to review preparations for the return of ACC holders. Chaired by Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi, the meeting was briefed on the completion of all necessary arrangements for the deportation process.
Authorities have set up holding centers to detain Afghan citizens prior to deportation, ensuring provisions for food and healthcare. Minister Naqvi stated that the federal government is coordinating with provincial authorities to facilitate the repatriation process, with Islamabad extending full support to provincial administrations.
To address potential challenges, Minister of State for Interior Talal Chaudhry will visit provinces during the deportation process. Minister Naqvi directed officials to treat foreign nationals with respect during the repatriation process.
Officials reported that an awareness campaign is ongoing, informing refugees about their return, while mapping of ACC holders has been completed. The ACC, issued by Pakistan’s National Database and Registration Authority (NADRA), provides temporary legal status to Afghan refugees, with its validity determined by the federal government.
The meeting was attended by several high-ranking officials, including the Federal Secretary for Interior and representatives from the Foreign Ministry, law enforcement agencies, and all provincial administrations. confirmed that a crackdown on ACC holders will commence after the deadline.
Additionally, Pakistani citizens renting properties to undocumented Afghan nationals will face legal consequences. Authorities plan to conduct search operations to track down illegal Afghan residents and integrate their biometric data into official records to prevent future re-entry. Fraudulently obtained identification and travel documents will be canceled, and offenders may face imprisonment and fines.
The meeting also saw the formation of a committee to deliberate on Chief Minister of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Ali Amin Gandapur’s proposal to negotiate with the Afghan Taliban on counterterrorism efforts. Gandapur has requested formal authorization from the federal government to engage with Afghan authorities and has submitted a proposed peace plan to the Ministries of Interior and Foreign Affairs.
The deportation of ACC holders is part of the second phase of Pakistan’s initiative to repatriate undocumented foreigners, which began in November 2023. A government notification issued on January 29 announced this measure.
Furthermore, the federal government has ordered Afghan citizens holding UNHCR-issued Proof of Registration (PoR) cards to relocate outside Islamabad and Rawalpindi by March 31.
International human rights organizations have condemned the deportation plan, arguing that the deadline has left thousands of Afghan refugees in a state of extreme vulnerability and uncertainty. Earlier this week, Amnesty International criticized Pakistan’s treatment of Afghan refugees, alleging that thousands have been harassed, arbitrarily detained, and forced to leave.
In a statement on Wednesday, Amnesty International denounced the Pakistani government’s deportation strategy as ‘unrelenting and cruel,’ asserting that it disregards international human rights laws, particularly the principle of non-refoulement, which prohibits returning refugees to places where they may face persecution.
However, Pakistan’s Foreign Office has rejected allegations of mistreatment, labeling them as ‘misleading.’
