Islamabad:

In a major political decision, Pakistan on Friday gave Afghan citizen card (ACC) holders a period of March 31, to leave the country or be exposed to deportation.

Reports made rounds that Pakistan planned to remove all Afghans from the country, but this was for the first time the Ministry of the Interior officially confirmed the development.

“Illegal Foreigners Repatriation Program (IFRP) is implemented since November 1, 2023. In the continuation of the government’s decision to repatriate all illegal foreigners, National Management has now decided to Repatriate ACC holders,” read the official distribution of the Ministry of the Interior.

“All illegal aliens and ACC holders are advisable to leave the country voluntarily before March 31, 2025; then deportation will begin WEF 1, 2025,” the statement added.

The Ministry of the Interior said that sufficient time had already been allocated for their worthy returns. “It is emphasized that no one will be abused during the repatriation process and the events for food and healthcare for the return of foreigners have also been introduced.”

“Pakistan has been a gracious host and continues to fulfill his obligations and obligations as a responsible state. It is repeated that individuals staying in Pakistan will have to fulfill all legal formalities and comply with Pakistan’s constitution,” it said.

Over the course of 80, 0000 Afghans living in Pakistan were illegally repatriated to their country since Pakistan launched the campaign in November 2023. However, Pakistan spared those who were registered in UNHCR and those who had acc.

It is estimated that about 3 million Afghans are still residing in Pakistan. The Afghan government recently raised concerns about the forced deportation of their citizens and alleged abuse fulfilled to them.

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 will add the already tense ties between the two countries. Pakistan has blamed Afghanistan for the increase in terrorist attacks. Pakistan said that Afghan citizens were increasingly involved in terrorist attacks in the country.

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 the Torkham border, which remained closed for two weeks.

According to sources, the situation is tense at the most important limit that was closed on February 21 over a dispute over the construction of a new check post from the Afghan Taliban.

Pakistan accused the Afghan side of the closure of the border. “In the last few days, the Afghan side has performed an illegal and unilateral construction activity within the Pakistani territory at two points along the Pakistan border,” according to spokesman for the Foreign Office.

“Despite these provocations, Pakistan has shown withheld and requested border flag meetings to resolve the case peacefully, which was eventually held. However, it is unfortunate that the Afghan side next to his illegal construction action Thursday Thursday Thursday.

He said Pakistan strongly condemned these repeated provocations and actions against Torkham boundary terminal, which was part of the integrated transit trading system created to promote bilateral and transit trading.

“Afghan actions that result in forced closure of the border crossing at a time of financial difficulty in Afghanistan are hardly sensible and will only aggravate the situation. We therefore call for the preliminary Afghan authorities to reject violence and resolve peaceful funds, which, according to the UN Charter and International Legislation, is the most suitable method of solving any dispute between two neighboring countries.”