Pakistan Begins Deporting Documented Afghan Refugees

Pakistan has initiated the deportation of documented Afghan refugees ahead of the stipulated deadline, according to the United Nations. This action could lead to the expulsion of over one million Afghans from the country.

The federal government had previously communicated to the provinces its plan to commence the formal repatriation and deportation of over 1.3 million Afghan refugees possessing Proof of Registration (PoR) cards, effective September 1.

A notification from the relevant ministry detailed that the voluntary return of Afghan citizens holding PoR cards would begin immediately. The formal repatriation process for remaining PoR holders is scheduled to start on September 1.

Additionally, the ministry stated that the repatriation of undocumented foreign nationals, including Afghan Citizen Card (ACC) holders, would proceed in accordance with the Interior Ministry’s Afghan Repatriation Program (IFRP).

The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) reported receiving accounts of detentions and expulsions of legally registered Afghans across the nation, occurring before the September 1 deadline.

The UNHCR stated that such actions represent a breach of Pakistan’s international commitments and obligations.

“UNHCR urges the government to halt the forced return and adopt a humane strategy to guarantee the voluntary, phased, and dignified return of Afghans,” the agency conveyed in a released statement.

Qaisar Khan Afridi, a UNHCR spokesperson, informed an international news agency on Wednesday that numerous legally registered Afghan refugees had been detained and deported to Afghanistan between August 1 and August 4.

Authorities have not responded to requests for comments on the matter.

Over 1.3 million Afghans possess Proof of Registration cards, while an additional 750,000 hold Afghan Citizen Cards.

Many Afghans have resided in Pakistan since the 1980s, seeking refuge from ongoing conflicts in Afghanistan.

“Such extensive and hasty returns could endanger the lives and freedom of Afghan refugees, while also contributing to potential instability within Afghanistan and the wider region,” the UNHRC cautioned.

Pakistani authorities have asserted that Islamabad expects all Afghan nationals to depart, excluding those with valid visas.

Pakistan’s repatriation initiative forms part of the broader Illegal Foreigners Repatriation Plan, initiated in late 2023.

Pakistani officials have previously attributed militant attacks and criminal activities to Afghan citizens, who constitute the largest group of migrants present in the country. Afghanistan has refuted these allegations, describing the repatriations as forced deportations.

In addition to repatriations from Pakistan, Afghanistan is also confronting a new surge of mass deportations originating from Iran. Aid organizations are concerned that this influx could further destabilize the nation.