Pakistan’s interior ministry has issued a final notice to all illegal foreigners and Afghan Citizen Card holders, urging them to leave the country before March 31 or face deportation starting April 1. The government has intensified its repatriation drive, citing security concerns and legal obligations. Islamabad has previously attributed militant activities and crimes to Afghan nationals, a claim that Kabul has consistently denied.
In a recent statement, the interior ministry emphasized that Pakistan has fulfilled its responsibilities as a host nation but now expects all foreign nationals to comply with legal residency requirements. The country first launched its repatriation drive in 2023, focusing primarily on undocumented migrants. With the latest directive, Afghan Citizen Card holders are now also required to exit Pakistan within the given deadline.
According to the United Nations, Pakistan has hosted around 2.8 million Afghan refugees over the past four decades, including approximately 800,000 Afghan Citizen Card holders and 1.3 million Proof of Residence (PoR) cardholders. The ministry’s statement did not clarify whether PoR cardholders would also be impacted by the deportation plan.
Since the repatriation drive began, over 800,000 Afghans have returned to their homeland, marking one of the largest refugee movements in recent years. The situation remains a topic of concern for humanitarian organizations, with the UN closely monitoring the impact on Afghan returnees.
