By UM-E- KULSOOM
The Pakistani government has issued a fresh directive regarding Afghan refugees, setting a deadline of March 31, 2025, for all Afghan citizens holding Afghan Citizenship Cards (ACC) to leave the country. If they fail to comply, deportation proceedings will accelerate from April 1 onwards. This decision has placed thousands of Afghan refugees in a state of uncertainty.
Following the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan in 1979, millions of Afghans sought refuge in Pakistan. Subsequent decades saw further waves of migration, including during the Taliban’s rise in the 1990s and the U.S. invasion in 2001. Another significant influx occurred in 2021 when the Taliban regained power, prompting many Afghans—particularly those associated with Western nations—to flee out of fear of retaliation.
While Pakistan has long provided shelter to Afghan refugees, growing economic and security concerns have intensified calls for their repatriation. In October 2023, Pakistan initiated a crackdown on undocumented foreign nationals, setting an October 31, 2023, deadline for them to leave. Following this move, thousands of Afghan refugees were deported. Now, the new March 31, 2025, deadline extends this policy to ACC holders as well.
Government sources state that those remaining in Pakistan beyond the deadline will face forced deportation. This measure will affect thousands of Afghan refugees, including those who have spent decades in Pakistan and built their lives there. The Afghan government had requested Pakistan to slow the deportation process, citing Afghanistan’s fragile economic conditions and limited job opportunities. However, Pakistan rejected the request, asserting that it cannot bear the burden any longer.
The Taliban administration argues that most Afghan refugees in Pakistan are peaceful and not involved in illegal activities. They also deny accusations linking Afghan refugees to terrorist incidents in Pakistan. However, Pakistani authorities disagree, contending that several terrorist organizations operate from Afghan soil. Security agencies in Pakistan see groups like Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) as a major threat, holding Afghanistan responsible for cross-border attacks. Despite multiple discussions between the two governments, no effective resolution has been reached.
Additionally, Pakistan’s struggling economy has fueled the urgency to deport Afghan refugees. With rising inflation and unemployment, there is growing pressure on the government to repatriate foreigners who lack legal residency. Officials argue that Pakistan’s limited resources cannot sustain the continued presence of Afghan refugees.
Human rights organizations, including Amnesty International, have expressed concerns over Pakistan’s decision, urging authorities to adhere to international human rights laws. They argue that the forced deportation of long-term refugees—many of whom were born and raised in Pakistan—could lead to a severe humanitarian crisis. Rights groups are calling for a more dignified and humane approach, allowing Afghan refugees adequate time and support for repatriation.
As the deadline approaches, the fate of thousands of Afghan refugees in Pakistan remains uncertain, raising questions about their future and the broader implications of their forced return to an already fragile Afghanistan.
Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Opposes Forced Expulsion of Afghan Refugees
As global voices rise against the expulsion of Afghan refugees, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur has also expressed reservations over the federal government’s decision. He has termed the policy of deportation as flawed and complained that he was not taken into confidence regarding the matter.
During a press conference at the Chief Minister’s House in Peshawar, Gandapur criticized the federal government’s approach, demanding a review of policies to avoid repeating past mistakes. He urged the government to grant citizenship to Afghan refugees residing in Pakistan instead of forcibly deporting them.
“Afghanistan is our neighbor and will always remain so; this fact cannot be changed. The policies adopted in the past regarding Afghan refugees were against human rights and resulted in their humiliation,” said Gandapur.
Expressing frustration over being excluded from discussions, he asserted that he opposed the forced deportation and would not allow actions that contradicted his province’s policies and culture. “How can I push Afghans beyond the border? If any Afghan seeks Pakistani citizenship, they should be granted it instead of being forcibly expelled,” he remarked.
Gandapur further revealed that the provincial government had sent Terms of Reference (TORs) to the federal government for discussions with Afghanistan, but no response had been received yet.
Following Gandapur’s statements, the United Central Global Afghan Council (UCAC) has also called for an extension of the March 31, 2025, deadline for Afghan refugee repatriation. UCAC officials expressed gratitude to Pakistan for providing shelter and dignity to Afghan refugees, calling Pakistan their “second home.”
During a press conference at Peshawar Press Club, UCAC Chairman Mian Khail Brialay and Vice Chairman urged the government to extend the deadline by at least a year, citing the dire humanitarian conditions in Afghanistan. “Forty percent of people in Afghanistan have no shelter. The given timeframe is too short; a proper policy should be devised in consultation with us,” they said. They also called for the reopening of the Torkham border, emphasizing that its closure was causing hardships for both traders and common people.
While Gandapur’s support for Afghan refugees was acknowledged, UCAC officials complained that law enforcement agencies continued to harass them.
The decision to expel thousands of Afghan refugees directly impacts individuals who have spent their entire lives in Pakistan—those born in the country, educated in its institutions, and established their livelihoods here. Deportation would force them to start from scratch in Afghanistan, an arduous and uncertain process.
Although the Pakistani government argues that the deportation policy could ease economic pressure, it may also bring unintended consequences. A sudden expulsion could invite international criticism over human rights violations. Moreover, if Afghan refugees struggle to find employment in their homeland, many may attempt to return to Pakistan through illegal means.
With the March 31, 2025, deadline approaching, it remains to be seen how many Afghan refugees will voluntarily leave and how many will resist deportation. If the government enforces strict measures, it could spark a major humanitarian crisis, prompting global intervention. It is still unclear whether Pakistani authorities will provide exemptions to Afghan Citizen Card holders. If the policy remains unchanged, forced deportations may escalate after April 1, 2025.
The issue of Afghan refugee repatriation is highly sensitive, intertwined with security, economy, human rights, and diplomatic relations. While the Pakistani government justifies its decision for national stability, Afghan authorities and human rights organizations continue to oppose it. The coming weeks will reveal further developments, but for thousands of Afghan refugees, the March 31 deadline poses a formidable challenge.
