Pakistan on July 10 announced that 1.45 million Afghan refugees will be allowed to remain in the country for another year, even as it continues to enforce the eviction of undocumented migrants. The decision comes against the backdrop of escalating tensions with Kabul over security concerns.
Since last year, over 600,000 Afghans have been compelled to leave Pakistan following Islamabad’s directive for undocumented migrants to either depart or face arrest. Human rights organizations have raised alarms, noting that many of those sent back to Taliban-ruled Afghanistan received minimal support and some faced persecution.
The Pakistani government confirmed that Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s cabinet approved an extension for Afghan refugees holding Proof of Registration (PoR) cards, valid until June 2025. These cards had expired at the end of June, leaving their holders uncertain about their legal status in Pakistan.
Despite the extension, not all Afghan residents possess these registration cards. Many, even those with valid documentation, have reported harassment and pressure to leave the country.
The announcement followed a visit by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), Filippo Grandi, who had expressed gratitude for the suspension of Pakistan’s “Illegal Foreigners Repatriation Plan.”
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