ISLAMABAD— Pakistan has given Afghan migrants a 24-day deadline to leave the country voluntarily, warning that those who remain after March 31 will face forced deportation, according to a statement from Pakistan’s Ministry of Interior.
The directive applies to holders of the Afghan Citizen Card (ACC) and all undocumented Afghan nationals, who are now required to leave Pakistan by March 31, 2025 (11 Hamal 1404 in the Afghan calendar). The statement further warns that beginning April 1, authorities will launch a nationwide operation to expel remaining Afghan migrants.
“Holders of Afghan Citizen Cards must leave Pakistan by March 31, 2025. All undocumented foreign nationals and ACC holders are advised to exit voluntarily before this deadline. The deportation process will commence on April 1, 2025,” the statement read.
Mass deportations enter second phase
Pakistan began mass deportations of undocumented Afghan refugees in November 2023, with more than 800,000 ACC cardholders still residing in the country. The latest announcement marks the beginning of a second phase of deportations, targeting those who had initially been allowed to remain.
Tahir Khan, a journalist covering the deportations, described the move as a serious warning.
“Pakistan’s latest directive signals the beginning of a second wave of forced deportations. This will have severe consequences for Afghan refugees and Afghanistan itself,” Khan told reporters.
Human rights concerns
Rights groups and Afghan migrants have condemned Pakistan’s deportation policy, calling it inhumane and a violation of international human rights standards.
Seema Nouri, a human rights activist, warned that thousands of Afghans deported to Taliban-controlled Afghanistan could face serious security threats.
“Forced deportations put thousands of lives at risk, as many will face persecution upon return,” she said.
Rahil Talash, another human rights advocate, called the policy unjust and unlawful, stating:
“This decision endangers thousands of lives and violates human rights principles and international humanitarian law.”
Meanwhile, Afghan migrants in Islamabad and Rawalpindi reported that Pakistani police have intensified arrests in recent days.
“Unfortunately, police have escalated detentions of Afghan nationals. Just today, several families were taken from different areas and transferred to Haji Camp,” said Ahmad Khalid, an Afghan migrant in Pakistan.
Since the start of 2025, Pakistani authorities have expanded house-to-house searches, detentions, and deportations in major cities, including Islamabad and Rawalpindi.
For thousands of Afghan families who fled Taliban rule, citing security threats, lack of education, and economic hardship, Pakistan’s latest directive has only deepened uncertainty over their future.
