Pakistan to begin second phase of Afghan refugee repatriation

The Pakistani government is set to initiate the next phase of its plan to repatriate Afghan refugees, focusing on Afghan Citizen Card (ACC) holders, reported 24NewsHD TV channel Tuesday.

According to official sources, around 800,000 Afghans currently residing in Pakistan under ACC status will be repatriated in the coming months.

Preparations have begun to evacuate legally residing Afghan citizens from Islamabad and Rawalpindi. Following the directives of the Ministry of Interior, district administrations have started making arrangements to facilitate the process.

The Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) has also deployed special teams at the Deputy Commissioner’s office to oversee the departure of foreign nationals residing illegally.

A deadline of March 31 has been set for the relocation of Afghan citizen card holders from the federal capital and Rawalpindi to other cities, after which they will be transferred to Afghanistan.

Meanwhile, Afghan citizens who wish to travel to a third country have been granted an extension on their residence permits until June 30. However, sources indicate that those awaiting visas for other destinations will not be allowed to remain in Islamabad beyond the deadline.

The Ministry of Interior will submit an implementation report, including updates from intelligence agencies, to the Prime Minister’s Office every 15 days.

Sources further revealed that if Afghan nationals do not secure visas from a third country by September, they will be considered illegal residents in Pakistan.

The repatriation initiative is part of Pakistan’s broader efforts to regulate foreign residency and address security concerns, with authorities emphasizing a structured and phased approach to the process.