The Afghan Taliban’s ask for an extension in the stay of Afghan refugees has been turned down by Akistan. Kabul has made it quite clear that Islamabad will follow its deporting policy from April 1 for all illegal and Afghan Citizen Card (ACC) holders.
Pakistan on March 7 declared in a significant policy change that ACC holders had till March 31 to depart the nation or risk deportation. Although Pakistan boasts about 800,000 ACC holders, after March 31 they will be classed as illegal immigrants.
Reports were circulating that Pakistan intended to expel all Afghans from the nation, but this the first time the Ministry of Interior formally verified the development.
“Since November 1, 2023, illegal foreigners repatriation program (IFRP) has been carried out. Following the government’s determination to repatriate all illegal immigrants, national leadership has now decided to also return ACC holders,” the official ministry handout on March 7 reads.
“All illegal foreigners and ACC holders are advised to leave the country voluntarily before 31 March 2025; hence, deportation will start wef [with effect from] 1 April 2025,” the statement said.
Pakistan claimed enough time has already been given for a respectable return of Afghan immigrants. After this deadline was set, the Taliban government contacted Pakistan diplomatically asking not to deport their nationals and allow them additional time.
Official sources informed on Sunday that there would be no relaxation and the Pakistani decision was definitive. According to sources pertinent authorities from all four provinces have been directed to organise suitably for the repatriation of Afghan refugees.
Since Pakistan started the effort in November 2023, about 8,00,000 illegally residing Afghans in Pakistan have been returned to their homeland. But Pakistan had exempted those registered under the UNHCR or with the ACC.
Still living in Pakistan are almost three million Afghans. The Afghan government lately expressed worries over the maltreatment of their citizens and regarding forced expulsion of their nationals.
Pakistan, on the other hand, refuted the accusations and urged the government of Afghanistan to make the surroundings conducive for the honourable return of their nationals.
The action will sour already strained relations between the two nations.
Pakistan has blamed Afghanistan for the explosion of terrorism on its territory. Pakistan claimed that recent terrorist acts revealed growing involvement of Afghan nationals.
First enquiries revealed that the current terrorist strike aiming at the Bannu Cantonment was also carried out by Afghan nationals. Additionally, at Torkham border crossing blocked since February 21, Pakistan and Afghanistan engaged in gunfire.
Islamabad has ascribed the closing of the important border crossing to the Afghan side. The argument started over a fresh check post the Afghan side was building on Pakistan land. Sources claimed that expulsion of Afghans also occurs across the Torkham border.
