RASC News Agency: Pakistan has officially commenced the large-scale deportation of Afghanistani refugees today, Tuesday, April 1, following the expiration of the voluntary repatriation deadline. Officials from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s Interior Ministry confirmed that the expulsion process is now underway, compelling Afghanistani refugees to return to their homeland. Reports indicate that despite repeated appeals from the Taliban to extend the voluntary return period, the Pakistani government refused to grant an extension. Authorities had initially set March 31 as the final deadline for Afghanistani refugees holding citizen cards to exit the country. With the grace period now over, Pakistan’s Interior Ministry has warned that mass expulsions will proceed as planned.
Qaiser Afridi, spokesperson for the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), revealed that of the estimated 2.1 million Afghanistani refugees in Pakistan, approximately 1.3 million hold Proof of Registration (PoR) cards, with more than half residing in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. Additionally, around 800,000 Afghanistani nationals possess Afghan Citizen Cards (ACC), the majority of whom also reside in the province. The Pakistani government has framed the mass deportation policy as part of broader security measures in response to escalating terrorist activities across the country. Since the initiative’s inception in late 2023, more than 878 Afghanistani refugees have already been forcibly repatriated.
However, the move has drawn sharp criticism from international organizations and human rights groups. UNHCR representative Filippo Grandi has strongly condemned the forced expulsions, asserting that involuntary repatriation is neither a sustainable nor humane solution. He has urged both Pakistan and Afghanistan to engage in deeper collaboration to facilitate the safe and voluntary return of refugees. The decision to deport Afghanistani refugees has ignited widespread concern among international bodies and advocacy organizations. Thousands of Afghanistani refugees in Pakistan, many of whom had sought asylum and stability, now face an uncertain future, grappling with security risks and the daunting challenges of reintegration into a volatile Afghanistan.
