Pakistan has decided to launch action against Afghan nationals residing in the country without valid visas, with arrests set to begin from July 10, according to the Ministry of Interior. The decision marks a new phase in the government’s ongoing Illegal Foreigners Repatriation Plan and will be implemented across the country through coordinated efforts by provincial and federal authorities.
Official directives have been issued to the chief secretaries of Punjab, Sindh, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, and Balochistan, as well as to the administrations of Gilgit-Baltistan, Azad Jammu and Kashmir, and Islamabad. The ministry has instructed all relevant authorities to speed up the deportation of Afghan nationals whose visas have expired or who have overstayed their permitted period of stay in Pakistan.
Deputy commissioners, police departments, and other law enforcement agencies have been directed to ensure strict implementation of the policy. The Ministry of Interior has also ordered authorities to submit daily reports starting July 11. These reports will include the number of Afghan nationals arrested for residing without valid visas, the action taken against them, and their current legal or detention status.
The decision was finalized during a review meeting held to assess progress on the Illegal Foreigners Repatriation Plan. Officials discussed measures to improve coordination between provincial administrations and federal agencies to ensure that the campaign is carried out effectively and in accordance with government directives.
Pakistan has previously conducted large-scale repatriation efforts targeting illegal foreign residents, particularly Afghan nationals. Over the past few years, the government has repeatedly directed undocumented Afghans to leave the country, citing immigration management, security concerns, and the need to regulate the status of foreign nationals residing in Pakistan.
Following the Taliban’s return to power in Afghanistan in 2021, a significant number of Afghan nationals moved to Pakistan, including individuals who said they faced security risks because of their work with foreign governments and international organizations. Many of their resettlement cases remain unresolved several years later, creating a complex humanitarian and diplomatic challenge as Pakistan moves ahead with its latest enforcement measures.
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