Islamabad: Minister of State for Interior, Senator Talal Chaudhry, has reaffirmed that there will be no extension in the deadline for the repatriation of undocumented foreign nationals residing illegally in Pakistan. Addressing a press conference in Islamabad, he emphasized that while Afghans are "our brothers," the decision was made based on ground realities, particularly in light of the country's security situation.
Chaudhry stated that all foreign nationals are respected, but the repatriation policy stems from national security concerns amid ongoing terrorism threats. He highlighted that the policy to expel undocumented foreigners was formulated on October 30, 2023. In the first phase, individuals without any documents were repatriated. In the second phase, initiated on February 13, 2025, Afghan Citizen Card (ACC) holders were targeted for repatriation with a deadline of March 31, 2025. The third phase, currently underway, involves the repatriation of Afghan Card holders.
According to Chaudhry, a total of 857,157 illegal foreign residents, including ACC holders, have been repatriated so far. He added that 815,247 individuals currently holding Afghan Citizen Cards remain in Pakistan. He also noted that under the Proof of Registration (PoR) program, which ran from 2006 to 2023, 1,569,522 Afghan nationals were registered in Pakistan.
While reiterating Pakistan’s respect and affection for Afghan nationals, the minister stressed that many recent incidents of terrorism have been linked to Afghan individuals. He further claimed that large narcotics shipments also originate from Afghanistan, with their proceeds often fueling terrorism within Pakistan.
Chaudhry rejected speculations surrounding the government's intentions and clarified that the Ministry of Interior has coordinated with all provincial authorities to implement the repatriation process. He said the government has launched the "One Document Regime," under which any foreign national, including Afghans, may enter Pakistan through a legal visa process and proper documentation.
“There is no longer any space for undocumented individuals in Pakistan,” he asserted, adding that transit points were established across provinces to temporarily house Afghan nationals, providing them with shelter and food during the repatriation process.
The minister concluded that the government remains committed to fully implementing the One Document Regime and will enforce strict border regulations on both its eastern and western frontiers. The 2,600 km long border with Afghanistan poses a major security challenge due to its role in facilitating terrorism, he noted.
He also confirmed that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs is actively engaged with the Afghan government and follows a systematic process for registering all repatriated individuals in coordination with Afghan authorities.
