Afghan refugees arrive from Pakistan at the border in Spin Boldak district of Kandahar province on December 3, 2023. PHOTO: AFP
ISLAMABAD:
The government decided on Friday to ensure a quick and dignified repatriation of Afghan nationals without further extension.
The decision was taken after a high-level meeting chaired by the Prime Minister on the repatriation of Afghan refugees, where the Prime Minister reaffirmed Pakistan’s longstanding commitment to support Afghanistan in difficult times, but noted that continued involvement of Afghan nationals in cross-border terrorism was a matter of grave concern.
The Prime Minister directed all provincial governments and the relevant federal institutions to work in close coordination to ensure early and orderly repatriation of all Afghan nationals staying illegally in Pakistan, stressing that no further extension of their stay would be granted.
Appreciating Pakistan’s decades-long hospitality to millions of Afghan refugees despite enormous economic and security challenges, the Prime Minister recalled that Pakistan had suffered heavy losses in the war against terrorism in both lives and resources.
He noted that despite several diplomatic efforts, including high-level visits by the Deputy Prime Minister and the Foreign Minister, the Defense Minister and other senior officials in Kabul, Pakistan’s concerns regarding the terrorist groups’ use of Afghan soil remained unresolved.
“The brave people of Pakistan, who have sacrificed so much in the fight against terrorism, are now rightly asking how long we can continue to bear the burden of Afghan refugees,” the Prime Minister noted.
The Forum was informed that as of 16 October 2025, more than 1.47 million Afghan nationals had already been repatriated in stages. Authorities informed that only those holding valid Pakistani visas would be allowed to stay, while the number of exit points at the border was increased to facilitate a faster repatriation process.
The Prime Minister directed that the repatriation should be carried out in a dignified and humane manner, particularly to ensure respect for the elderly, women, children and members of minority communities. He warned that housing or harboring illegal Afghan residents, including allowing them to live in guesthouses, was a punishable offence.
The Prime Minister also praised the armed forces under the leadership of Field Marshal Asim Munir for effectively repelling recent cross-border attacks from Afghanistan and reaffirmed that Pakistan’s armed forces have always proved their professional excellence in defending the motherland.
The meeting participants, including the Prime Minister of AJK and provincial leaders, appreciated Pakistan’s diplomatic achievements and praised the leadership of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Field Marshal Asim Munir in steering the national policy in the area.
Concluding the session, the Prime Minister directed all provincial governments and institutions to fully implement the agreed recommendations and extend full cooperation to ensure timely and dignified repatriation of all illegal Afghan residents from Pakistan.
The meeting was attended by Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir, Chief of Army Staff, Federal Ministers, the Prime Minister of Azad Jammu and Kashmir, Chief Ministers of Punjab, Sindh, Balochistan and Gilgit-Baltistan and the representative of the Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister, Muzzammil Aslam.
