In a high-level meeting chaired by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Friday, officials were informed that as of 16th October, a total of 1.4 million Afghan nationals have been repatriated from Pakistan, with the government announcing that no further extensions will be granted.
The decision targets Afghan nationals holding Proof of Registration cards, the last group legally residing in Pakistan without visas & forms part of a repatriation drive launched on 1st September.
The meeting underscored that only Afghan nationals with valid Pakistani visas will be allowed to remain, while the number of exit points on the Afghan side is being increased to facilitate a faster & smoother repatriation process.
Officials highlighted that harboring Afghan nationals residing illegally or providing them shelter constitutes a criminal offence & public participation will be encouraged to enforce government policy.
Prime Minister Shehbaz emphasised that the process must uphold the dignity of vulnerable groups, including women, children, the elderly & minorities.
He noted that senior Pakistani officials, including the deputy prime minister, have repeatedly engaged with the Afghan interim government, urging them to prevent Afghan soil from being used for cross-border terrorism.
Referring to recent hostilities, the premier condemned attacks originating from Afghanistan & reiterated that the Pakistan Armed Forces, under the leadership of Field Marshal Asim Munir, had successfully repelled assaults on border areas.
He paid tribute to the security forces & described the incursions as a serious concern for national security.
The forum, which included Chief of the Army Staff, provincial chief ministers, the premier of Azad Kashmir, federal ministers & other officials, concluded with a call for full provincial cooperation in the repatriation process & resolved that all recommendations would be strictly implemented.
According to UN data, more than 3.5 million Afghans have been living in Pakistan, including roughly seven hundred thousand, who arrived after the Taliban takeover in 2021, with half of the population estimated to be undocumented.
While Pakistan has historically provided refuge to Afghan nationals during decades of conflict, the government cited growing security risks and pressure on public services as reasons for accelerating repatriation. #PrimeMinister#ShehbazSharif#Pakistan#Afghanistan
