ISLAMABAD, Pakistan — The Pakistani government has finalized plans to begin detaining and deporting Afghan nationals holding Afghan Citizen Cards (ACC) after the expiration of a March 31 deadline for their voluntary return, according to reports by Dawn and other local media outlets.
The decision, made despite repeated calls from international human rights organizations to halt the process, will affect tens of thousands of Afghans living in Pakistan who have been granted temporary identification documents but not full legal status.
At a high-level meeting held on Friday, chaired by Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi, officials confirmed that all necessary arrangements had been completed to initiate the deportation of ACC holders following the deadline.
Authorities said that holding centers have been established to detain Afghan nationals prior to their expulsion, and that food and medical care will be provided at these facilities. Naqvi emphasized that provincial authorities would receive full federal support during the operation.
The government also announced that Talal Chaudhry, Minister of State for Interior, would travel to provinces to resolve any logistical issues during the deportation process. Naqvi directed officials to treat foreign nationals with dignity throughout.
A door-to-door awareness campaign is reportedly underway to inform Afghan migrants of the impending deportations. Officials said that the mapping of all ACC holders has been completed.
The Afghan Citizen Card, issued by Pakistan’s National Database and Registration Authority (NADRA), grants limited legal status to Afghans residing in the country. According to the International Organization for Migration (IOM), the validity of these cards is determined by the federal government.
Friday’s meeting was attended by senior federal and provincial officials, including secretaries from the ministries of interior, foreign affairs, and law, as well as security agency representatives, police chiefs, and the FIA Director General.
Pakistan is currently home to an estimated 3.7 million Afghan nationals, many of whom fled their country following the Taliban’s return to power in 2021. Rights groups including Amnesty International and the UN refugee agency (UNHCR) have condemned the mass deportation plan, warning that it places thousands of vulnerable people at risk.
