pakistan-orders-undocumented-afghans-to-leave-by-mar-31

The Pakistan government asked for Afghan Citizen Card (ACC) holders to leave the country by March 31, 2025, officials said.

 

The document, intentionally leaked in the media Friday night, indicated that the ACC holders staying in Islamabad and Rawalpindi would be moved out and sent back to Afghanistan as part of a multipurpose relocation plan for Afghan migrants.

 

The decision has come at a time when the bilateral relations between Kabul and Islamabad have deteriorated over the issue of the Afghan government’s incompetency to tackle cross-border terrorism.

 

The move, according to experts, was taken as a result of the incapability of the Taliban-led Afghan government to address the issues raised by Pakistan.

 

Pakistan has been worst affected by the resurgent form of terrorism in its frontier regions, especially Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan.

 

The move is likely to impact over 800,000 documented Afghan refugees holding Afghan Citizen Cards and is included in the category of documented refugees, contrary to hundreds and thousands of undocumented ones.

 

It stated that the Illegal Foreigners Repatriation Programme (IFRP) has been implemented since November 1, 2023, and in “continuation to the government’s decision to repatriate all illegal foreigners, the national leadership has now decided to also repatriate ACC holders.”

 

“All illegal foreigners and ACC holders are advised to leave the country voluntarily before March 31, 2025; thereafter, deportation will commence with effect from April 1, 2025,” it warned.

 

The document released highlighted that sufficient time has already been given for their respectful return and highlighted that no one during the process of repatriation will be ill-treated.

 

It further noted that Pakistan has been a gracious host and continues to fulfil its commitments and obligations as a responsible state.

 

It is reiterated that individuals staying in Pakistan will have to fulfil all legal formalities and abide by Pakistan’s Constitution,” it said.

 

Pakistan has been home to millions of Afghans; most of them moved across the porous border in the 1980s when the former USSR forces were in Afghanistan.