Pakistan has stepped up its efforts to deport illegal foreign nationals, with a focus on undocumented Afghan residents. The government confirmed this move on Saturday, highlighting the enforcement of laws against those living without valid documentation.
The Ministry of Interior stated that Proof of Registration (PoR) cards for many Afghan residents expired on June 30. Anyone staying in Pakistan after this date without renewed documentation is considered to be living illegally. The government is now enforcing Section 14B of the Foreigners Act to ensure these individuals return to Afghanistan.
Officials have been ordered to arrest and deport those residing illegally. District administrations, police, and jail authorities have received strict instructions to take action quickly and respectfully.
This renewed campaign began in April 2025 but is part of a larger effort started in 2023. Since then, Pakistan has revoked hundreds of thousands of temporary residence permits given to Afghan refugees. Many of these refugees were born in Pakistan or have lived there for decades.
Authorities in Balochistan reported that thousands of Afghans are currently waiting at the Chaman border to cross back into Afghanistan. Afghan officials in Kandahar confirmed they have seen an increase in returnees in recent days.
Since 2023, over one million Afghans have returned to their home country. More than 200,000 of these returns happened after the April 2025 push. The Pakistani government says the deportation drive is necessary for national security and economic reasons.
Security concerns have risen in regions like Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan. Pakistan has faced its highest number of deaths from terrorist attacks in the past decade, with some attacks linked to Afghan nationals.
Human rights groups have expressed worry over the deportations, especially about the forced nature of some returns. However, Pakistan insists the campaign is lawful and needed to maintain security.
This new phase of the deportation drive shows Pakistan’s ongoing effort to control illegal residency and improve national safety.
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