ISLAMABAD: Pakistan has issued a deadline for the voluntary return of registered Afghan refugees, including those holding Proof of Registration (PoR) cards, by June 30. State Minister for Interior, Talal Chaudhry, confirmed this deadline and stated that after this date, formal deportation procedures would begin.
Chaudhry emphasized that Afghan refugees have been guests in Pakistan, and they would be sent back with dignity and respect. This move is part of Pakistan’s One Document Policy, under which more than 857,000 undocumented individuals, primarily Afghans, have already been repatriated. In the future, Afghan nationals wishing to return to Pakistan will need to obtain visas in accordance with international norms.
The current focus is on PoR cardholders, who now have until the end of June to leave voluntarily. The second phase of repatriation, which targeted Afghan Citizen Card holders, concluded on March 31.
In response to concerns from the UNHCR, spokesperson Qaisar Khan Afridi stressed that deportations should be voluntary and not forced. He pointed out that among the refugees are former Afghan government officials, civil society activists, musicians, and educated professionals, whose safety could be at risk if they are forcibly sent back. Afridi also mentioned complaints of arrests in Punjab, some involving documented refugees.
However, Minister Chaudhry firmly denied reports of forced arrests, stating no such cases had been officially reported, and previous allegations were proven false after verification. He clarified that refugees who do not leave voluntarily would first be notified and then moved to refugee holding centers, where they would receive food, shelter, security, medical aid, and travel assistance in a structured and humane process.
Chaudhry also highlighted the challenges posed by fraudulent practices, such as the seizure of fake Pakistani passports in various countries, leading Pakistan to tighten internal controls. He reiterated that just as Pakistanis follow immigration rules abroad, Afghan citizens must adhere to Pakistan's laws.
