Pakistan: The Pakistani government has announced plans to expel Afghan nationals holding Pakistan-issued Afghan citizen cards after the Eid Al-Fitr festival next month. This decision comes as part of a broader campaign to map Afghan nationals across the country for deportation, targeting those who hold these citizen cards.
Despite criticism from the United Nations and international rights organizations, Pakistan has already expelled around half a million undocumented Afghan refugees since last November. The decision to accelerate the deportation drive is attributed to a surge in deadly suicide bombings, claimed by banned militant outfits like the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan, with alleged sanctuaries in neighboring Afghanistan.
Fazale Rabi, director repatriation at the Commissionerate for Afghan Refugees, confirmed that the second phase of the expulsion operation would commence next month, focusing on Afghan refugees holding citizen cards. He stated that the cards, issued in 2017-18, were for one-time registration to have data of the refugees in the country.
Pakistan is home to more than 4 million Afghan migrants and refugees, with about 1.7 million of them undocumented. The first phase of the expulsion, which began last year, exempted Afghan nationals with citizen cards or proof of registration documents (PoR).
Rabi emphasized that peace and stability returning to Afghanistan should encourage Afghan citizens to return and participate in the country’s rebuilding. The interior ministry confirmed the planned operation, stating that it was part of an ongoing campaign against illegal immigrants, including Afghans, that would intensify after Eid Al-Fitr.
