Pakistan to Begin Deportation of Afghan Refugees in September

Pakistan to Begin Deportation of Afghan Refugees in September
—————————-
Pakistan’s government has announced that it will begin deporting Afghan refugees with expired temporary residency cards on September 1, 2025, Anadolu Agency reported. The policy, part of the national Illegal Foreigners Repatriation Plan (IFRP), was finalized during a high-level meeting. The government cites security concerns and pressure on national resources as the reasons for the deportations.

Nearly one million Afghan refugees are at risk of being deported under this new policy. The Interior Ministry has confirmed that their cards are no longer valid, and legal proceedings will be initiated soon. This follows a similar campaign in late 2023 that resulted in the forced return of hundreds of thousands of undocumented Afghan nationals.

While the Pakistani government defends the policy as being in the national interest, human rights organizations have voiced serious concerns. They warn that the returnees will face insecurity, a lack of shelter, and limited economic opportunities in Afghanistan, a country already grappling with political instability and a humanitarian crisis. Critics argue that without proper legal safeguards and support, this mass deportation could violate international refugee protections and further destabilize the region.