Pakistan is preparing to begin the third phase of mass deportations of Afghan refugees, with authorities setting a June 30 deadline for migrants holding registration cards to leave the country voluntarily, according to the Interior Ministry.
The new phase targets Afghan nationals who hold Proof of Registration (P.O.R.) cards issued by Pakistan or who are recognized as refugees by the United Nations. Officials have said there will be no extensions to the deadline, prompting concern among rights groups and humanitarian organizations.
Amnesty International warned in a statement on Sunday that as many as 1.4 million registered Afghan refugees are now at risk of forced deportation, urging Islamabad to halt the removals and extend legal protections for those affected.
“Pakistan must immediately suspend the deportation plan and renew refugee documentation to ensure protection,” Amnesty said.
Afghan refugees and rights activists say they are facing growing uncertainty and fear as the deadline approaches.
The looming expulsions follow earlier deportation waves that began in October 2023. Since then, Pakistan has repatriated more than 100,000 Afghans, many of whom were undocumented or held temporary Afghan Citizen Cards (ACC). Human rights advocates say the second phase, launched on March 31, was carried out with increasing intensity, especially after diplomatic talks between Pakistani officials and the Taliban over cross-border militant threats from the Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP).
“This is not a migration issue anymore; it’s become a political tool,” said Raheel Talash, a rights activist. “The fate of Afghan refugees is being determined by regional security calculations.”
Izzatullah Bakhshi, another human rights campaigner, said Pakistan’s actions reflect a shift in policy since tensions escalated with the Taliban government last year. “What began in October 2023 as border enforcement has now evolved into a systemic purge of Afghan communities,” he said.
The Pakistani government has not commented on the number of refugees expected to be expelled in this phase, but rights groups estimate it could affect the full population of 1.4 million refugees with valid documents.
The situation remains fluid, and refugee advocates continue to call on the international community to intervene.
