Pakistan’s Move To Deport Afghan Refugees By Sept 1 Raises Concern From UNHCR

Last Updated:August 07, 2025, 00:08 IST

The refugees will now be allowed a 25-day “grace period” from August 4 to August 31 to voluntarily repatriate.

The PoR cards issued by Pakistani authorities to refugee Afghans were valid only until June 30 (Pexels/Representative Image)

The Pakistani government has announced a major phase of its ongoing Illegal Foreigners Repatriation Plan (IFRP), targeting the deportation of Afghan refugees who currently reside in the country with Proof of Registration (PoR) cards. As reported by Dawn, the government aims to begin formal repatriation and deportation proceedings starting September 1, 2025.

The announcement has drawn concerns from the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), which confirmed receiving reports of forced arrests and detentions of Afghans across Pakistan following the announcement.

According to Pakistan’s Interior Ministry, over 1.3 million Afghan refugees currently hold PoR cards, which have historically allowed them to stay in Pakistan without a valid visa. However, in a statement released last week, the Ministry declared that all PoR cardholders would be considered unlawful residents following the expiration of their documents.

Afghans who have fled to Pakistan over the past four decades are currently allowed to reside with PoR cards issued by Pakistani authorities. These cards were valid until June 30, 2025, and the government has refused to renew them anymore.

The refugees will now be allowed a 25-day “grace period" from August 4 to August 31, to return voluntarily to Afghanistan, according to Lateef-ur-Rehman, spokesperson for the Home and Tribal Affairs Department.

In a letter dated August 4, the Interior Ministry instructed provincial chief secretaries, police chiefs, and other top bureaucratic officials to begin implementing the IFRP. The ministry also requested local authorities to submit comprehensive data on PoR cardholders to provincial, divisional, and district-level repatriation committees.

As reported by PTI, the Database and Registration Authority (NADRA) and the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) will assist in identifying and processing deportees.

This is not the first step in Pakistan’s broader effort to expel Afghan migrants. In 2023, Pakistan began its push to repatriate Afghan nationals. The government claims over 800,000 Afghans have already been returned under the IFRP.

The UNHCR has voiced concern, particularly over the forced return of vulnerable groups such as women and girls, warning that such actions could place them at serious risk. “given that those holding PoR cards have been recognised as refugees for decades, their forced return is contrary to Pakistan’s long-standing humanitarian approach to this group," the agency said, urging the government to ensure that all repatriations are voluntary.

Islamabad, Pakistan

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