Pakistan’s Ministry of Interior has ordered all Afghan nationals without valid visas or residence permits to leave the country, as authorities resume deportations of undocumented migrants.
According to a notice obtained by Afghanistan International, the return process officially began on August 1. The government has also started deporting Afghans whose Proof of Registration (PoR) cards or Afghan Citizen Registration (ACR) cards have expired.
Afghan migrants previously told Afghanistan International that Pakistan’s immigration authorities have suspended the visa renewal process. Police have reportedly begun arresting and deporting Afghans who were awaiting visa extensions.
The policy marks a continuation of Pakistan’s deportation drive, which began last year and drew widespread international criticism. Many Afghan refugees had fled Taliban persecution and face grave risks if forced to return.
Amnesty International said the government’s failure to renew PoR cards has left an estimated 1.4 million Afghans in legal limbo. The rights organisation has called on Islamabad to immediately halt the deportations and resume processing residency renewals for Afghan nationals.
