Islamabad:
Pakistan has rejected a request from the Afghan Taliban to give an extension in the stay of Afghan refugees. Kabul has been conveyed in clear conditions that Islamabad will stick to his plan to deport all illegal and Afghan Citizen Card (ACC) holders from April 1st.
In a major political decision, Pakistan announced on March 7 that ACC holders had until March 31 to leave the country or face deportation. There are about 800,000 ACC holders in Pakistan, but after March 31, they will be treated as illegal foreigners.
Reports made rounds that Pakistan planned to remove all Afghans from the country, but this was for the first time the Ministry of Interior officially confirmed the development.
“Illegal Foreigners Repatriation Program (IFRP) has been implemented since November 1, 2023. In continuation of the government’s decision to repatriate all illegal foreigners, national leadership has now decided to Repatriate ACC holders,” read the official distribution of the ministry issued on March 7.
“All illegal aliens and ACC holders are advised to leave the country voluntarily before March 31, 2025; then deportation will begin WEF [with effect from] April 1, 2025, ”added the statement.
Pakistan said that sufficient time was already allocated for a worthy return of Afghan migrants. After issuing this deadline, the Taliban government approached Pakistan through diplomatic channels with a request not to deport their citizens and give them more time.
Official sources told The Express Pakinomist on Sunday that the Pakistani decision was final and that there would be no relaxation. Sources said that relevant authorities and all four provinces have been instructed to make appropriate schemes for the return of Afghan refugees.
Over 8.00,000 Afghans living in Pakistan illegally have been repatriated to their country since Pakistan launched the campaign in November 2023. However, Pakistan had spared those who were registered in UNHCR or had acc.
There are about 3 million Afghans still residing in Pakistan. The Afghan government recently raised concerns about forced deportation of their citizens and claimed that abuse was met.
Pakistan, however, denied these charges and asked the Afghan Taliban government to create an environment in the country to encourage the worthy return of their countrymen.
The move aggravates the already tense ties between the two countries.
Pakistan has blamed Afghanistan for the increase in terrorist attacks on its land. Pakistan said that Afghan citizens were increasingly involved in the recent terrorist attacks.
The original investigations showed that Afghan citizens were also behind the recent terrorist attack targeting the Bannu canton. There was also the exchange of fire between Pakistan and Afghanistan at Torkham Border Crossing, which has been closed since February 21.
Islamabad has blamed the Afghan side for the closure of the most important border crossing. The vigor emerged over a new check post that the Afghan side constructed on the Pakistani territory. Sources said that deportation of Afghans would also take place through the Torkham border.
