Deadline ends: Afghan refugees repatriation begins today

ISLAMABAD: The process of repatriating Afghan refugees residing illegally in Pakistan begins today (Tuesday) as the March 31 deadline for voluntary return has expired.

Despite requests from the Taliban government, the federal government last week decided not to extend the deadline.

Authorities also sought records of Afghan students in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa by March 27 to update the Foreign National Security Cell’s dashboard.

The policy to expel illegal immigrants is part of efforts to improve security amid rising terrorist attacks, which Islamabad has repeatedly linked to militant groups operating from Afghan territory.

So far, 878,972 undocumented Afghans have returned to their homeland, according to Radio Pakistan.

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Meanwhile, Amnesty International has urged Pakistan to revoke its “opaque” Illegal Foreigners Repatriation Plan, warning that the March 31 deadline could worsen hardships for Afghan refugees.

Pakistan currently hosts 2.1 million documented Afghans, while hundreds of thousands remain undocumented, many of whom have lived in the country for decades.

The Pakistani authorities have set March 31 as the final deadline for all illegal Afghan residents, including those holding ACC cards, to leave.

Many Afghans, born and raised in Pakistan, have never visited their homeland.

According to sources in the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Home Department, the deportation process is set to begin today (April 1).