The clock has started ticking for the Afghans living in Pakistan as it has decided to expel most of them, if not all, under a programme that starts from April 1. In a major policy decision, Pakistan has announced that it has given time till March 31 to holders of Afghan Citizen Card (ACC) to leave the country or face deportation.
According to unofficial estimates, at least 30 lakh (3 million) Afghans still reside in Pakistan. In the recent past, the Taliban government of Afghanistan had raised concerns over the forced deportation of their nationals from Pakistan. It had also alleged that the Afghan nationals were mistreated by the authorities.
For the past few months, there were reports in the mainstream media that Pakistan was planning to evict all Afghans from the country. The reason given was that this could serve as a pressure point for the Afghan government as Tehrik Taliban Pakistan (TTP) armed cadres were repeatedly carrying out attacks against security forces of Pakistan. After attacking the Army and the police, the TTP cadres slip away to nearby Afghanistan territories, the Pakistan government had alleged.
By expelling all Afghans from Pakistan, significant pressure could be mounted against the Taliban government to curb the activities of the TTP, it was felt. However, the Afghanistan government has done very little to curb the TTP activities telling the Pakistan government officially its soil was not being used for anti-Pakistan acts, according to a report in The Herald Tribune.
After issuing many warnings and using different tactics in its dealings, the Interior Ministry of Pakistan has now officially confirmed the news regarding repatriation of the Afghan nationals. “Illegal Foreigners Repatriation Program (IFRP) is being implemented since November 1, 2023. In continuation of the government’s decision to repatriate all illegal foreigners, national leadership has now decided to also repatriate Afghan Citizen Card holders,” read the official handout of the interior ministry.
“All illegal foreigners and ACC holders are advised to leave the country voluntarily before March 31, 2025; thereafter, deportation will commence with effect from April 1, 2025,” the statement added.
The Interior Ministry said that sufficient time had already been granted for their dignified return. “It is emphasised that no one will be maltreated during the repatriation process and arrangements for food and healthcare for returning foreigners have also been put in place.
Pakistan has been a gracious host and continues to fulfill its commitments and obligations as a responsible state. It is reiterated that individuals staying in Pakistan will have to fulfill all legal formalities and abide by Pakistan’s constitution,” it said.
Over 80, 0000 Afghans living in Pakistan illegally were repatriated to their country since Pakistan launched the campaign in November 2023. Pakistan, however, spared those who were registered with the UNHCR and ones who had ACC.
Pakistan has now asked the Afghan Taliban government to create an environment in the country to encourage the dignified return of their countrymen. The move will add to the already tense ties between the two countries.
Pakistan has blamed Afghanistan for the surge in terrorist attacks and also accused the Afghan nationals of being terrorist attacks in the country. It has gone to the extent of accusing some Afghan nationals of behind the recent attack on the Bannu Cantonment.
There was firing between Pakistan and Afghanistan forces many times this year at Torkham border, which remained closed for two weeks. The situation, according to sources, is tense at the key border that was shut on February 21 over a dispute on the construction of a new check post by the Afghan Taliban.
Pakistan blamed the Afghan side for the closure of the border. “For the past couple of days, the Afghan side has carried out an illegal and unilateral construction activity within the Pakistani territory at two points along the Pakistan border,” according to the foreign office spokesperson.
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