Pakistan aims to expel 3 million Afghans who are living in the country illegally, with a deadline for them to voluntarily leave the capital and surrounding areas having expired on Monday. This crackdown, part of a broader campaign initiated in October 2023, has faced criticism from rights groups, the Taliban government, and the United Nations. While arrests and deportations were supposed to begin on Tuesday, they have been delayed to April 10 due to the Eid al-Fitr holidays.
Approximately 845,000 Afghans have already left Pakistan in the past year and a half, but around 3 million still remain, with only some having proper documentation. The Pakistani government has urged those with Afghan Citizen Cards to leave Islamabad and Rawalpindi voluntarily by March 31 or face deportation, while those with Proof of Registration have until June 30 to stay. Authorities have suggested working with foreign missions for the resettlement of Afghans who are bound for third countries.
Transit stations will be set up to assist with deportations, including in the northwest province of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. However, concerns have been raised about the fate of children born to Afghan parents in Pakistan, couples with different document statuses, and individuals with ties to both countries. People like Omaid Khan, who is faced with leaving while his wife has a different status, are unsure of their future. Similar sentiments have been expressed by others like Nazir Ahmed, who has never been to Afghanistan and is concerned about trying to establish a life there. The Afghan government has called for a more coordinated approach to the situation to ensure a respectful and dignified return for those being deported.
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