Pak to send registered Afghan refugees back to their country

Islamabad, February 4 (PTI) – The Pakistan government has formulated a plan to relocate registered Afghan refugees from Islamabad and Rawalpindi, ultimately repatriating them back to Afghanistan. Authorities have been instructed to implement this strategy discreetly, without any public announcement, according to a report by Dawn newspaper.

The plan was finalized in a series of high-level meetings chaired by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif last week. One such meeting also included Chief of Army Staff Gen Syed Asim Munir, a senior official from the Prime Minister’s Office confirmed.

Phased Repatriation Strategy​

The repatriation process will occur in phases, starting with Afghan nationals holding the Afghan Citizens Card (ACC). These individuals will be immediately moved out of Islamabad and Rawalpindi before being repatriated alongside undocumented refugees. The ACC, issued by Pakistan’s National Database and Registration Authority (NADRA), provides temporary legal status to Afghan nationals. However, its validity is subject to federal government decisions.

The second phase of the plan will focus on Afghan refugees possessing Proof of Registration (PoR) Cards, which legally allow them to reside anywhere in Pakistan. While these individuals will also be relocated out of Islamabad and Rawalpindi, they will not be deported immediately. The federal cabinet has allowed PoR-holding Afghans to remain in Pakistan until June.

Currently, an estimated 1.3 million Afghans in Pakistan hold PoR cards, while 700,000 possess ACCs.

Resettlement and International Coordination​

Afghans awaiting resettlement in third countries will also be moved out of Islamabad and Rawalpindi by March 31. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has been tasked with coordinating with embassies and international organizations to expedite the resettlement process.

Any Afghans who fail to secure third-country resettlement will also be deported to Afghanistan. According to Shawn VanDiver, founder of #AfghanEvac, a coalition supporting refugee resettlement, between 10,000 and 15,000 Afghan refugees are currently in Pakistan waiting for US visas or resettlement. However, the exact number residing in Islamabad and Rawalpindi remains unclear.

The relocation may pose significant logistical challenges for these refugees, particularly those needing to visit foreign embassies and humanitarian offices in Islamabad. Many Afghan nationals waiting for third-country resettlement are also enrolled in language training centers in the federal capital.

Implementation and Monitoring​

The Ministry of Interior will oversee the relocation and deportation process, with intelligence agencies, including the ISI and IB, monitoring its execution.

Pakistan launched a nationwide crackdown in 2023 to deport millions of Afghans it deemed illegal residents. According to the International Organization for Migration (IOM), 805,991 Afghans have returned to their country since September 15, 2023.

However, the forced repatriation has drawn criticism from human rights activists and civil society groups, leading to a petition in the Supreme Court. During a hearing on January 7, the federal government assured the court that registered Afghan refugees with PoR and ACC documents would receive legal protection and would not face immediate deportation.

Despite this assurance, a recent IOM report indicated that hundreds of Afghan nationals were arrested and detained in Islamabad during the last two weeks of December, according to Dawn.

The unfolding situation continues to raise concerns about the future of Afghan refugees in Pakistan, as authorities push forward with their relocation and repatriation strategy.