Islamabad (Web Desk): The repatriation of Afghan refugees who have been living in Pakistan without proper documentation is set to begin today, following the expiration of the voluntary return deadline on March 31.
The government has previously asked for information regarding Afghan students in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (KP) by March 27, as part of its efforts to update the Foreign National Security Cell’s dashboard, a system that monitors foreign nationals in the country.
This move to expel undocumented immigrants is part of Pakistan’s broader strategy to improve security, which has been increasingly threatened by terrorist attacks that Islamabad attributes to militant groups operating from Afghan soil.
So far, nearly 879,000 Afghan refugees have returned to Afghanistan under the voluntary return scheme.
Meanwhile, human rights watchdog Amnesty International has urged Pakistan to withdraw its "opaque" Illegal Foreigners Repatriation Plan regarding the expulsion of illegal immigrants and Afghan citizens residing in the country.
In a statement, the Amnesty said that Islamabad's March 31 deadline for Afghans would exacerbate their woes.
At present, Pakistan is home to roughly 2.1 million documented Afghan refugees, with many others residing in the country without any legal status. Among the documented refugees, around 1.3 million hold Proof of Registration (PoR) cards, and a significant portion of them live in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
In cities like Peshawar, a large Afghan community has established businesses and contributed to the local economy, making the potential impact of the repatriation even more complex.
This isn't the first time such measures have been taken; in 2023, Pakistan set a deadline for unregistered foreigners, resulting in a significant number of Afghan nationals leaving. Now, similar repatriation camps have been organized to facilitate the process for those choosing to return.
Earlier this month, the Afghan interim government under the Taliban urged both Pakistan and Iran to adopt a more structured and gradual approach to the repatriation of Afghan refugees, stressing the need to avoid forced deportations.
They also highlighted the difficulties facing those returning to Afghanistan, acknowledging the challenges posed by the country's ongoing instability.