By Staff Reporter
ISLAMABAD: The United Nations refugee agency expressed alarm on Sunday over Pakistan’s March 31 deadline for Afghan refugees to leave the country, cautioning that the move has unsettled communities and could lead to unsustainable forced returns.
The government has mandated that approximately 800,000 holders of Afghan Citizenship Cards (ACC) depart voluntarily by the deadline, after which mass deportations will commence as part of a broader plan to repatriate all illegal foreigners.
The UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) notes that this group is in addition to 1.52 million registered Afghan refugees and asylum-seekers, plus others living in Pakistan without official recognition. Many of these Afghans have resided in Pakistan for decades, with the first major influx arriving after the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan in 1979.
The move is part of a larger repatriation drive for foreign citizens that began in 2023, following a string of suicide attacks that Islamabad said involved a number of Afghan nationals. Over 800,000 Afghans have since been expelled from Pakistan. In 2023, the Pakistani government said it was first focusing on expelling foreigners with no legal documentation and other categories like ACC holders would be included later.
In an Eidul Fitr message titled “A Call for Compassion: Afghan Refugees in Pakistan and the Path to Hope,” UNHCR representative Philippa Candler said the decision has “shaken” the Afghan community.
“For nearly five decades, millions of Afghans have come and gone from Pakistan, fleeing waves of violence since 1979 and returning home under mixed circumstances over the years. Some have chosen to repatriate voluntarily, while others have felt compelled to do so,” Candler said. “Recent Government announcements about departure deadlines have again shaken the Afghan community in Pakistan.”
She recounted visiting a family who fled Afghanistan in 2022 amid the Taliban’s takeover. “It was heartbreaking to see how fearful they were to be forced to go back. Their hopes and dreams have been shattered,” Candler said.
She stressed that such forced returns threaten families who have built lives in Pakistan, where they have contributed to the workforce and started businesses despite facing discrimination and limited legal rights.
“The latest directives from the government represent a significant disruption to the fabric of many communities,” Candler added. “Dislocation from communities that have welcomed them and a possible forced return to Afghanistan, when there has been little chance for planning on how to rebuild their lives there, are unlikely to be sustainable.”
Pakistan’s repatriation push, intensified in recent years due to security concerns and economic pressures, contrasts with the long history of Afghan integration into its society.
Candler said Pakistan’s continued support for Afghan refugees, who have become woven into the fabric of Pakistan’s society, is “admirable” but undeniably a challenge for the host state.
“Healthcare, education, and other public services are often overburdened, and host communities are feeling the strain. Pakistan is stuck in a tough spot – balancing the needs of its own people, dealing with a growing security challenge, and shouldering the financial impact of hosting refugees,” she said.
“At the same time, the world expects Pakistan to keep delivering. The international community needs to keep stepping up and acknowledge that this stability comes at a cost, and that the responsibility must be shared.”
The situation requires a multifaceted approach, according to the UNHCR official. Pakistan and Afghanistan must work together to make sure that Afghan refugees can voluntarily and safely return home.
Both Pakistan and Afghanistan are preparing for the deadline. Pakistani officials have established temporary camps in Khyber district at Landi Kotal and Peshawar, while Taliban authorities in Afghanistan are ready to receive returnees at the Torkham border crossing. However, the Afghan government has urged caution.
Last week, Acting Afghan Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi met Pakistan’s Special Representative for Afghanistan, Mohammad Sadiq, and requested more time for ACC holders, warning that rapid repatriation could overwhelm Afghanistan’s fragile infrastructure.
Candler advocated for a coordinated response. “Sustainable return means creating a peaceful and secure environment in Afghanistan, so refugees don’t have to fear persecution or discrimination when they go back. For Afghans who cannot return safely for the moment, efforts must be made in Pakistan to expand access to education, health care, and employment opportunities, while also granting them legal recognition and protection under international refugee law,” she added.
“The international community has a significant role to play. The responsibility on Pakistan should not be borne alone. Humanitarian aid needs to continue, not just to provide short-term relief but to support long-term development programs. Promises were made for the relocation of Afghans who entered the country since 2021. While many Afghans have left to third countries, thousands still remain in limbo in Pakistan. UNHCR is calling for their speedy departures, which means a durable solution and stability for the refugees.”
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