RASC News Agency: In a dramatic policy shift, the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) provincial government has reversed its previous opposition and now fully supports Pakistan’s federal decision to expel Afghanistani migrants. According to a report by The Express Tribune on Monday, March 25, the KP administration, which had previously voiced strong objections to the forced deportation of Afghanistani refugees, has now aligned itself with Islamabad’s directives. Ali Amin Gandapur, the province’s chief minister, had initially condemned the federal decision, branding it incomplete and a violation of human rights. However, during a press conference in Peshawar on Sunday, March 17, he admitted that previous policies toward Afghanistani refugees had been flawed.
This abrupt shift, according to insider sources, stems from intensified pressure from the federal government. While KP authorities have publicly declared their support for Islamabad’s stance, they maintain that migrants will not be subjected to forced expulsions. Instead, Afghanistani refugees will be encouraged to return voluntarily and with dignity. To facilitate the repatriation process, the KP government has announced the establishment of a dedicated office at the Torkham border to provide logistical support for departing migrants. Meanwhile, an urgent high-level meeting is set to take place in Peshawar in the coming days to further coordinate the implementation of the policy.
With only eight days remaining before Pakistan’s deadline for undocumented Afghanistani migrants and those holding Afghan Citizen Cards (ACC) expires, the situation has escalated to a critical juncture. Pakistani officials have confirmed that from April 1, 2025, authorities will initiate large-scale forced expulsions of Afghanistani migrants who fail to leave voluntarily. Current estimates indicate that nearly 800,000 Afghanistani migrants holding ACCs, alongside hundreds of thousands of undocumented individuals, face imminent deportation as the Pakistani government moves forward with its controversial repatriation strategy.
