Afghanistan: Pakistan Has Decided to Expel All Afghan Refugees

The Embassy of Afghanistan in Pakistan has announced that Pakistan has decided to expel Afghan refugees from all parts of the country, including Islamabad and Rawalpindi, in the near future.

According to a statement from the Embassy of the Islamic Emirate in Islamabad, this decision is final and includes the expulsion of all Afghan refugees, including those holding ACC (Afghan Citizen Card) and PoR (Proof of Registration) cards.

Sardar Ahmad Shakeeb, the chargé d’affaires of the Embassy of the Islamic Emirate in Islamabad, stated: “The officials of Pakistan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs have informed us that from now on, Afghans can only stay in Pakistan with a visa. The ACC and PoR cards will no longer be valid. However, their cabinet has extended the validity of the PoR cards until June 30. After that, they will have no legal status—those who leave voluntarily can do so, but others will be forcibly deported.”

At the same time, some Afghan refugees living in Pakistan consider this decision one-sided and call for their concerns to be addressed. They say this decision has caused anxiety among Afghan refugees in Pakistan.

“The Pakistani government should coordinate with the current Afghan authorities and the UNHCR in a tripartite agreement to establish a policy that guarantees all the rights of refugees,” said Atiqullah Mansoor, an Afghan refugee in Pakistan.

“According to Pakistan’s latest decision to expel all Afghan refugees from Islamabad, Rawalpindi, and other areas, this move has deeply worried Afghan refugees in Pakistan,” said Mohammad Reza Sazish, another Afghan refugee in Pakistan.

This comes as Pakistan hosts the largest number of Afghan refugees, and previously, the United Nations had also urged Pakistan to halt the forced deportation of Afghan refugees.