Pakistan has ordered all documented Afghan migrants to leave the Pak grounds by March 31 or face deportation, according to an order issued on Friday.
This decision was made one day after Pakistan was urged to halt the expulsion of Afghan migrants by Afghanistan’s Ministry of Refugee and Repatriation Affairs.
Citing security concerns, Pakistan has stepped up attempts to deport unlawful migrants since starting the Illegal Foreigners Repatriation Program in October 2023. According to the most recent instruction, individuals who possess Afghan Citizen Cards (ACCs) are also subject to this policy and must leave within three weeks before the start of deportations on April 1.
“The national leadership has now decided to repatriate ACC holders as well,” the Pakistani government said in a brief statement. “By March 31, all ACC holders and illegal foreigners must voluntarily depart otherwise, deportations will commence from April 1.”
“No one will be mistreated during the repatriation process,” Ministry also assured.
This order impacts approximately 900,000 ACC holders residing in Pakistan.
Earlier PM Shehbaz Sharif issued a directive for the deportation of ACC holders on January, but had not previously set a deadline.
Notably, the most recent Global Terrorism Index places Pakistan as the second most afflicted nation by terrorism.
Pakistan claims Afghan nationals have participated in terrorist acts claimed by the TTP and its affiliates, and it has accused the Taliban leadership in Afghanistan of providing sanctuary to TTP fighters.
The recent order is issued following a twin suicide attack at a military installation in the province of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa on Tuesday. This recent attack claimed 18 lives, including five troops.
According to ISPR statement the attack was planned from Afghan territory. ISPR report further stated that 16 terrorists, slained in the incident were recognized as Afghan nationals.
However, the Afghan Taliban has denied these allegations, calling them fabricated.
