PESHAWAR, Pakistan — Pakistan intends to deport 3 million Afghan nationals this year, following the expiration of a deadline for voluntary departure from Islamabad and surrounding areas on Monday.
This marks the continuation of a campaign initiated in October 2023 targeting the expulsion of foreigners residing illegally in Pakistan, predominantly Afghans. The initiative has faced criticism from various entities, including the Taliban administration and the United Nations.
Originally scheduled for April 1, the commencement of arrests and deportations was postponed to April 10 due to the Eid al-Fitr holidays, according to government documents obtained by The Associated Press.
Data from the International Organization for Migration indicates that approximately 845,000 Afghans have left Pakistan in the last year and a half.
Pakistan reports that 3 million Afghans remain in the country. Among them, 1,344,584 possess Proof of Registration cards, while 807,402 hold Afghan Citizen Cards. An additional 1 million Afghans are in the country without proper documentation.
Pakistan has stated its intention to prevent deported Afghans from returning.
Authorities had instructed Afghan Citizen cardholders to leave Islamabad and Rawalpindi by March 31, either voluntarily returning to Afghanistan or facing deportation.
Individuals with Proof of Registration are permitted to remain in Pakistan until June 30, while those awaiting resettlement are also required to leave Islamabad and Rawalpindi by March 31.
Authorities have stated they will collaborate with foreign diplomatic missions to resettle Afghans; otherwise, they will be deported from Pakistan.
Tens of thousands of Afghans fled following the Taliban takeover. They were being processed for resettlement in the U.S. through a program designed for individuals at risk due to their association with the American government, media outlets, aid organizations, and rights groups.
However, President Donald Trump ended the program in January, leaving 20,000 Afghans in uncertainty.
The Taliban want Afghan refugees to return with dignity
According to documents outlining the expulsion plans, “No Afghan officials [are] to be made part of any committee or formal decision-making process.”
Abdul Mutalib Haqqani, a spokesman for Afghanistan’s Refugee Ministry, informed The Associated Press that Pakistan’s decisions were arbitrary, lacking involvement from the U.N. refugee agency or the Taliban government.
“We have communicated our concerns, emphasizing that unilaterally expelling refugees is not in the best interest of either party,” Haqqani stated. “It is not in their interest because [such an expulsion] creates a negative perception against Pakistan.”
“For us, managing the return of such a large number of Afghans poses a significant challenge. We have requested that deportations be conducted through a structured mechanism and mutual agreement, ensuring their return with dignity.”
Two transit facilities will be established in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province to facilitate deportations. One will be located in Nasir Bagh, a suburb of Peshawar, and the other in Landi Kotal, approximately 7 kilometers from the Afghan border.
Afghans are unsure of their future in a country they don’t know
The fate of undocumented children with documented parents, Afghan couples with differing document statuses, and families comprised of a Pakistani citizen and an Afghan citizen remains unclear. However, officials indicated to the AP that social welfare personnel will be available to assist in these situations.
Omaid Khan, 30, possesses an Afghan Citizen Card, while his wife holds a Proof of Registration card. Under Pakistani government policy, he is required to leave, while his wife can remain until June 30. Their two children lack documentation, including passports or identity cards from either country.
“I am from Paktia province, but I have never been there and I am uncertain about my future,” he stated.
Nazir Ahmed, 21, was born in Quetta and has never been to Afghanistan. His sole connection to the country is through his father, who passed away in Quetta four years ago.
“How can we go there?” Ahmed questioned. “Few people know us. All our relatives reside in Quetta. What will we do if we go there? We appeal to the Pakistani government to grant us some time to explore our options and secure employment.”
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Associated Press writer Abdul Sattar contributed to this report from Quetta, Pakistan.
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