Afghanistan Times
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KABUL – Pakistan has expelled over 80,000 Afghan nationals since the end of March, as part of a massive repatriation drive ahead of a final deadline of April 30. Talal Chaudhry, an adviser to Pakistan’s interior ministry, confirmed on Friday that the country would enforce this deadline strictly, allowing only Afghan nationals with valid visas to remain in Pakistan.
The repatriation initiative, part of the “Illegal Foreigners Repatriation Plan” launched in late 2023, comes after multiple warnings to undocumented Afghans or those holding Afghan Citizen Cards to return home by March 31. The deadline was later extended to April 30, but authorities have now made clear that this is the final extension. Chaudhry added that temporary centers have been set up across Pakistan to house deported individuals before they are transported to the Torkham border crossing.
The move has ignited tensions between Pakistan and Afghanistan. Pakistan has long blamed Afghan nationals for militant attacks and crimes, given that they represent the largest migrant group in the country. However, Afghanistan has rejected these accusations and labeled the repatriation effort as forced deportation.
The timing of the announcement comes just a day before Pakistan’s Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar is scheduled to lead a high-level delegation for talks in Kabul. The discussions are expected to cover a range of issues, including security, trade, and the broader Pakistan-Afghan relationship, though the repatriation plan is likely to remain a central point of contention.
As Pakistan accelerates the deportation process, there are growing concerns about the safety and welfare of Afghan migrants, many of whom have lived in Pakistan for years, and the potential humanitarian impact of the forced return to a Taliban-controlled Afghanistan.
