Pakistani officials have announced that preparations have been completed to detain and deport a specific category of Afghan citizens following the March 31 deadline for their voluntary return.
A high-level meeting on Friday, chaired by Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi, reviewed arrangements for the repatriation of Afghan Citizen Card (ACC) holders after the deadline.
In January, the Pakistani government instructed ACC holders to leave the country by the end of March or face deportation. Despite appeals from the Afghan government and human rights organizations, authorities have refused to extend the deadline.
During the meeting, officials confirmed that all necessary measures had been put in place to ensure the return of ACC holders. Detention centers have been established to house Afghan citizens before deportation, with food and healthcare facilities available, Dawn newspaper reported.
Naqvi emphasized that the federal government was coordinating with provincial authorities on the repatriation process and assured full support for its implementation. Minister of State for Interior Talal Chaudhry has been tasked with visiting provinces to address any issues that arise.
Naqvi also directed officials to treat foreign nationals with respect during the repatriation process. A door-to-door awareness campaign has been launched, and mapping of ACC holders has been completed.
According to the UN’s International Organization for Migration, the ACC provides temporary legal status to Afghan citizens in Pakistan, but its validity is determined by the federal government.
A government official, speaking to Dawn, stated that nationwide crackdowns would begin after the deadline, targeting ACC holders. Additionally, individuals renting properties to undocumented Afghan nationals will face legal consequences. Authorities will conduct search operations, maintain biometric records of illegal Afghan residents, and bar them from re-entering the country. Fraudulently obtained identity and travel documents will be revoked, and violators, along with their accomplices, will face fines and imprisonment.
The meeting also decided to form a committee to assess a proposal by Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur for negotiations with the Afghan Taliban on security issues. Gandapur has requested formal authorization from the federal government to engage in talks and has submitted a peace plan to the ministries of interior and foreign affairs.
The repatriation of ACC holders is part of the second phase of the Illegal Foreigners Repatriation Programme, which began in November 2023. The latest phase of the initiative was announced on January 29. Additionally, the government has ordered the relocation of Afghan nationals—including those holding UNHCR-issued Proof of Registration (PoR) cards—out of Islamabad and Rawalpindi by March 31.
The deportation plan has drawn sharp criticism from international human rights organizations. Earlier this week, Amnesty International condemned the treatment of Afghan migrants by Pakistani authorities, calling the March 31 deadline “unyielding and cruel.”
