ISLAMABAD: Afghan officials on Sunday called on Pakistan to collaborate on a joint mechanism for the gradual and dignified repatriation of Afghan refugees, emphasizing that forced deportations serve neither country’s interests.
This appeal follows a March 7 statement from Pakistan’s Interior Ministry, which urged all undocumented foreigners and Afghan Citizenship Card (ACC) holders to voluntarily leave the country before March 31, 2025. The statement warned that deportations would begin from April 1, 2025.
Mufti Abdul Mutalib Haqqani, spokesperson for Afghanistan’s Ministry of Refugees and Repatriation, reiterated that repatriation is a key policy of the Afghan government—but stressed that it must be carried out in coordination with Pakistan to ensure a phased return with “honour and dignity.”
“If Pakistan proceeds unilaterally, we are ready to receive the refugees,” Haqqani said during an interview with Taliban-run Hurriyat Radio. “However, we urge that deportations be avoided as they violate both international norms and Islamic values, and undermine neighborly relations.”
He confirmed that meetings have been held with Pakistani officials and ongoing communication is in place, urging Pakistan to respect calls for a cooperative process. “Forcible deportation is not in the interest of either country,” he said. “A joint mechanism would allow for manageable numbers to return, enabling us to properly accommodate and support them.”
Haqqani also claimed that deportations have already begun, and noted that Iran has expressed willingness to develop a coordinated return strategy in partnership with Afghanistan.
To support returning refugees, Haqqani said the Afghan government has formed a special commission and is taking steps to provide land and employment opportunities—particularly for skilled individuals. He added that returnees who wish to invest in the country will be exempt from taxes for five years, including on goods they bring with them.
Meanwhile, Afghan officials confirmed that returnees arriving via the Torkham border crossing are being welcomed and assisted at camps.
Siddiqullah Qureshi, head of the Nangarhar provincial information department, told the state-run Bakhtar News Agency that 325 Afghan nationals returned on Friday, including 249 people from 62 families and 31 individuals who were deported on April 13.
“Repatriation through Torkham has increased recently. Returnees are being registered and provided with basic services,” Qureshi said.
Bakhtar also reported that a delegation led by Nangarhar Deputy Governor Maulvi Azizullah Mustafa visited the border to oversee the second wave of returns and ensure better coordination and support for those arriving.
On the Pakistani side, a camp at Landi Kotal is now operational to process ACC holders. Officials in Khyber district reported that cases of 850 Afghans were processed on Sunday alone, with 777 individuals deported the previous day. Since April 1, a total of 11,272 Afghans have been repatriated, according to a senior district official cited by Dawn.com.
Pakistan launched its Illegal Foreigners Repatriation Plan (IFRP) on November 1, 2023. Since then, over 700,000 undocumented Afghans have left the country. Despite appeals from Afghan Taliban authorities, Pakistan has continued the deportations under its stated policy.
According to the March 7 Interior Ministry statement, the government has now expanded the plan to include ACC holders as well.
Pakistan currently hosts 1.52 million registered Afghan refugees and asylum seekers, an estimated 800,000 ACC holders, and numerous others without formal documentation.
