Pakistan is considering extending the deadline for 1.4 million Afghan refugees legally residing in the country to return home, government officials revealed Monday, reported by Euro News. The move aims to give refugees additional time to settle personal affairs—such as selling property or closing businesses—before repatriating in an orderly and dignified manner.
The current deadline, set for June 30, has sparked anxiety among refugees who face uncertainty amid a controversial crackdown launched by Islamabad in 2023 targeting foreign nationals, predominantly Afghans, accused of overstaying or lacking proper documentation.
Officials, speaking on condition of anonymity, said a formal proposal for a six-month extension was submitted last week by Pakistan’s Ministry of States and Frontier Regions and is expected to be discussed during the federal Cabinet meeting scheduled for Tuesday.
Earlier this year, Pakistan called for the departure of roughly 3 million Afghans, including 1.4 million with Proof of Registration cards and around 800,000 holding Afghan Citizen Cards. An estimated one million Afghans remain undocumented within Pakistan’s borders.
The crackdown has drawn sharp criticism from international organizations. The International Organization for Migration (IOM) warned that Afghanistan’s local systems are on the brink of collapse, struggling to accommodate the sudden influx of returnees. The UN refugee agency reported that at least 1.2 million Afghans have been forcibly returned from Iran and Pakistan this year alone.
Human Rights Watch condemned Pakistan’s actions, citing arbitrary detentions and forced deportations, highlighting the precarious fate awaiting many refugees under Taliban rule since 2021.
As the deadline looms, the world watches closely, hopeful that any decisions will balance humanitarian concerns with regional stability.
