The Caretaker Interior Minister, Sarfraz Bugti, issued a warning on Friday to illegal immigrants in Pakistan, urging them to leave the country by the deportation deadline of November 1. He emphasized that the state would show “no compromise” in taking action against those who do not leave.
The interim government previously mandated that all illegal immigrants, including 1.73 million Afghan nationals, depart the country or face expulsion. The authorities made this decision after reports that Afghan nationals carried out 14 out of 24 suicide bombings in the country.
“In the discussions concerning the expulsion of Afghan refugees, all relevant stakeholders participated. During these deliberations, it was decided to grant a grace period,” the minister stated. He further mentioned that some immigrants expressed a desire to return voluntarily.
The interim security chief reiterated that the deportation policy applied not only to Afghan nationals but to all individuals lacking the required documentation for residing in Pakistan. He emphasized that those with valid visas and proper documentation, regardless of their nationality, would not face any issues, as the focus was solely on expelling illegal immigrants.
In response to the government’s announcement of the deadline, numerous Afghan nationals have already begun leaving Pakistan, citing economic conditions as a significant factor in their decision.
Experts and officials link the decision to require illegal immigrants to depart closely to the escalating violence in the country, particularly in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan provinces, and the strained relations between the Pakistani government and the Taliban administration in Kabul.
Since the Soviet Union’s invasion in 1979, Pakistan has hosted millions of Afghan refugees. According to data from the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), approximately 1.33 million registered refugees hold Proof of Registration (PoR) cards, and 840,000 possess Afghan citizenship cards.
