Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (KP) Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur has criticized the federal government’s policy for Afghan refugees, saying they should not be expelled from Pakistan. “The center’s policy for Afghan refugees is deficient … The approach taken in the past violated human rights,” he said during a press conference in Peshawar on Sunday.

His remarks come weeks after the federal government set a deadline on March 31 for “illegal foreigners” and Afghan citizenship holders to leave Pakistan voluntarily. The move is part of a continuous repatriation drive launched by 2023, primarily targeted at undocumented Afghan citizens.

Islamabad has blamed Afghan migrants for security concerns and cites their alleged involvement in militant activities and crime. However, Gandapur claimed that without a criminal record they should be allowed to stay and grant Pakistani citizenship.

“There should be no problems if Afghans without a criminal listing are willing to stay in Pakistan … I’ve always raised my voice to Afghans who are legally compatible,” he said.

KP hosts the largest Afghan refugee population in Pakistan, where Peshawar meets the highest number. Many refugees have lived in the province for decades, run businesses or work in different sectors.

According to the United Nations, more than 800,000 Afghans have returned to Afghanistan since Pakistan began its repatriation efforts. Overall, the country is home to 2.8 million Afghan refugees, including 2.1 million documented residents.

Gandapur questioned the federal government’s handling of security and claimed that the situation was better under former Prime Minister Imran Khan. “When the state focused on crushing a party, it neglected its own responsibility, which led to an increase in terrorism,” he said.

The KP chief minister highlighted the provincial’s financial restrictions and accused the center of not providing sufficient resources. “The police have not been given new weapons in the last 10 years,” he said despite their efforts to counter terrorist threats at the province’s borders.

Gandapur also criticized delays in approval of reference conditions (TORS) for negotiations with Afghanistan on cross -border terrorism. He repeated his claim for KP’s rightful share under the National Finance Commission (NFC) prize warning of protests if no funds were awarded.

“If they are out of funds, they would have to sit with us and find a solution,” he urged, adding that increased police wages and development projects is linked to the province that received its proper share.