Pakistan holds off Afghan deportation drive until April 10, plans to expel 3 million by year’s end

Pakistan has delayed its mass deportation of Afghan nationals from April 1 to April 10 due to the Eid al-Fitr holidays, Amu TV reported. This operation aims to expel up to 3 million Afghans by year-end, with 845,000 already having left in the past 18 months. Of the remaining 3 million, 1.3 million have temporary legal status, while over 800,000 hold invalid Afghan Citizen Cards, and about 1 million are undocumented.

Authorities have ordered Afghan Citizen Card holders to leave Islamabad and Rawalpindi immediately or face deportation. The government has pledged to prevent deported Afghans from returning, despite criticism from human rights groups and the Taliban. Many facing deportation are those who fled after the Taliban’s 2021 takeover, with some awaiting U.S. resettlement that has been stalled. The crackdown has caused significant anxiety among Afghan communities in Pakistan.