Pakistan Rejects Taliban’s Request To Extend Afghan Refugees’ Stay
The Express Tribune reported on Monday that Pakistan has rejected a formal request from the Taliban to extend the stay of Afghan refugees.
Pakistani authorities have reaffirmed their decision to deport undocumented Afghan migrants and holders of Afghan Citizen Cards (ACC) after March 31.
According to the Express Tribune, citing sources within the Pakistani government, the Taliban had requested an extension through diplomatic channels following Islamabad’s announcement on March 7. However, a senior Pakistani official told the newspaper that the request had been denied. The government maintains that the expulsion of undocumented Afghan migrants and ACC holders will proceed as planned from April 1.
The official stated that Pakistan’s federal government has instructed provincial authorities to make the necessary arrangements for the deportation process. On March 7, the Pakistani government announced that Afghan migrants without residence permits, as well as those holding ACC cards, must leave by March 31. Authorities warned that deportation measures would be enforced against those who remain after the deadline.
While the exact number of undocumented Afghan refugees in Pakistan remains unclear, estimates suggest around 800,000 Afghans currently hold ACC cards. Pakistan has issued these cards for years to identify Afghan refugees, but they are distinct from Proof of Registration (PoR) cards, which are granted only to Afghan refugees recognised by the United Nations.
