Afghan repatriation deadline nears with thousands returning home

ISLAMABAD: With only one day remaining until the October 31 deadline, a substantial number of Afghans are hastening their return to their home country as part of the accelerated repatriation process.

Tuesday signifies the final day for illegal foreign nationals to exit the country, and official sources have confirmed that the government will stick to its plan, opting not to extend the deadline for voluntary repatriation.

This directive encompasses all illegal foreign nationals, including Afghan refugees, who are expected to return to their respective countries.

To ensure compliance, law enforcement agencies have completed the geo-fencing and geo-mapping of illegal residents.

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Following the deadline’s expiration, actions will be taken against those found residing in the country illegally, potentially involving the confiscation of all their movable and immovable assets.

A total of 86,546 illegal Afghan nationals have been repatriated to their country through the Torkham and Chaman border crossings.

Sarfaraz Bugti 

Caretaker Interior Minister Sarfraz Bugti has stated that the government is encouraging voluntary repatriation of foreign nationals until Wednesday, after which the state will initiate its operation to expel them.

He mentioned in an interview that over the last three days, more than 20,000 illegal foreigners voluntarily left Pakistan.

Sarfraz Bugti also announced that all provincial governments will participate in this operation, and committees have been established at the divisional and district levels. The expulsion of illegal foreign nationals will be conducted in phases, with individuals lacking travel documents being deported in the first phase.

Furthermore, he revealed that geo-mapping has been completed, enabling the government to locate illegal foreign nationals wherever they are. Holding centers have been established to accommodate these individuals, and they will be provided with basic facilities.

The return of Afghan nationals commenced after the government instructed all unregistered immigrants to voluntarily repatriate by October 31, 2023, prompting the launch of this repatriation process through the Torkham border.

UN agencies reported on Friday that there were more than 2 million undocumented Afghans in Pakistan, with at least 600,000 of them fleeing after the Taliban takeover in 2021.