Pakistan begins major crackdown against Afghan nationals

IANS April 3, 2025 271 views

Pakistan has initiated a comprehensive nationwide operation to deport Afghan nationals following an expired March 31 deadline. The government has established 43 refugee camps and is systematically arresting undocumented Afghan immigrants across multiple provinces. Approximately 1.3 million Afghan nationals are potentially affected by this massive repatriation drive. The action stems from concerns about illegal migration and potential security risks, despite appeals from the Afghan Taliban government to delay the process.

"Pakistan could not be expected to shoulder the responsibility of hosting Afghan refugees indefinitely" - Philippa Candler, UNHCR
Islamabad, April 3: The government of Pakistan has started a major nationwide crackdown against Afghan nationals, arresting hundreds of "illegal foreigners", including Afghan Citizen Card (ACC) holders, before transferring them to camps for further repatriation to Afghanistan.

Key Points

1

Pakistan sets March 31 deadline for Afghan nationals to leave

2

1.3 million Afghans face deportation process

3

Entire families may be deported if implicated in crimes

4

Camps established in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa for refugee processing

Hundreds of Afghan nationals have been taken into custody as law enforcement agencies began deportation process for them along with their families following the Eid holidays and March 31 deadline that was set for the voluntary return of Afghan nationals in Pakistan.

Interestingly, directives issued to the security forces reveal that if any Afghan citizen is implicated in criminal activities, the entire family will face deportation as part of the country's broader punitive approach.

The Afghan Taliban government in Kabul had requested Islamabad to delay the process of repatriation of Afghan nationals in Pakistan but Islamabad is in no mood to relet and has started conducting raids and arresting Afghan nationals from major cities.

"Notably, Pakistan has announced a renewed crackdown, stating that it will deport individuals without legal residence permits, even as valid cardholders face uncertainty," the Afghan government stated.

"Pakistan could not be expected to shoulder the responsibility of hosting Afghan refugees indefinitely. There is a need for humanitarian aid, not just for short-term relief but also to support long-term development initiatives," said Philippa Candler, UNHCR representative in Pakistan.

The decision to not extend the deadline and start a crackdown was taken during a meeting between Pakistan Interior Minister Mohsin Raza Naqvi and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, during which a briefing about the repatriation process of Afghan nationals was given.

The government authorities had issued a stern warning that it would take action against those who failed to leave the country by March 31.

As per details, at least 43 camps have been established to accommodate Afghan refugees in the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) province. Sources say that the authorities will conduct raids and take into custody illegal Afghans in the country, who will then be transferred to the refugee camps. They will then be enlisted before being transferred to the Landi Kotal area at the Torkham Pak-Afghan border for repatriation.

Statistics reveal that there are at least 1,344,584 Afghan nationals in the county with at least 709,278 Afghan nationals residing in KP having a Proof of Registration (PoR) with them.

Provincial data reveals that there are at least 317,000 registered Afghans in Balochistan, 74,117 in Sindh, 196,000 in Punjab, 42,718 in capital Islamabad and 4,448 Afghan refugees in other parts of the country.

Pakistan has maintained that its mass deportation drive is to regulate undocumented migration and keep a tab on illegal immigrants, who have, at times, become a security threat to the country.

Reader Comments

A
Ahmed K.
This is long overdue. We've been hosting refugees for decades while our own people struggle. National security must come first. 🇵🇰
S
Sadia R.
Heartbreaking to see families being uprooted like this. Many Afghans have lived here their whole lives. There must be a more humane way to handle this situation.
M
Mohsin A.
The policy of deporting entire families for one member's crime seems excessive. Punish the guilty, not innocent children and elders.
F
Fatima Z.
My Afghan neighbors are hardworking people who've contributed to our economy. Not all are security threats. The government should reconsider this blanket approach.
T
Talha S.
Finally some action! Our resources are stretched thin. Other countries should step up to help Afghanistan instead of expecting Pakistan to bear this burden alone.
N
Nadia K.
While I understand security concerns, the timing right after Eid is particularly harsh. Couldn't they have waited a few more weeks? 😔
R
Raza B.
The UNHCR rep makes a valid point - Afghanistan needs long-term development aid, not just temporary refugee solutions. The international community needs to do more.

We welcome thoughtful discussions from our readers. Please keep comments respectful and on-topic.

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Tags:
Pakistan Deportation Afghan Refugees Mohsin Raza Naqvi Border Security Immigration Crackdown
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