According to Pakistan’s media news reports, the government has extended the deadline for the deportation of Afghan refugees, allowing them to stay until after the Eidul Fitr holidays. The decision, confirmed by officials on Tuesday, comes as a temporary relief for thousands of Afghans who had been ordered to leave by March 31.
Pakistan had initially intensified its efforts to repatriate Afghan nationals, requiring those with specific documentation to depart. However, with the festive period marking the end of Ramadan, the government has pushed the deadline to early next week.
Among those affected are approximately 800,000 Afghans holding Afghan Citizen Cards (ACC), issued by Pakistani authorities. Once the new deadline passes, these individuals will be subject to deportation. Additionally, 1.3 million Afghans with Proof of Registration (PoR) cards, registered under the UN refugee agency (UNHCR), are set to be relocated away from Islamabad and Rawalpindi to designated areas.
The UN estimates that nearly three million Afghans currently reside in Pakistan. Many sought refuge decades ago due to conflict in their homeland, with numbers surging after the Taliban’s return to power in 2021.
Pakistan’s deportation campaign has drawn criticism from human rights organizations, who argue that many refugees have no stable future in Afghanistan. Lawyer Moniza Kakar highlighted the distress of those who have lived in Pakistan for years, stating, “For many, going back means returning to nothing.”
Tensions between Islamabad and Kabul have worsened since the Taliban takeover, with Pakistan accusing Afghanistan of harboring militants—a charge the Taliban denies. In March 2024, a high-level Pakistani delegation met with Afghan officials in Kabul to discuss regional security and diplomatic concerns.
The Taliban administration, while acknowledging the deportations, has repeatedly urged for the “dignified return” of Afghan refugees. Prime Minister Hassan Akhund appealed to host countries, requesting support instead of forced removals.
Following Pakistan’s 2023 ultimatum for undocumented Afghans, over 800,000 refugees have returned to Afghanistan between September 2023 and March 2024, according to UN data.
With the new deadline approaching, uncertainty looms for thousands of Afghan families in Pakistan, as they await their fate in a shifting political landscape.
