Pakistan has deported over 900,000 Afghan nationals since the launch of an expulsion drive in 2023, according to State Minister for Interior Talal Chaudhry.
The campaign began in November 2023, targeting foreigners without legal documentation. In 2024, authorities commenced the second phase, setting a March 31 deadline for individuals holding Afghan Citizen Cards (ACCs) to exit the country or face deportation. ACCs, issued since 2017, temporarily recognized Afghan nationals but did not grant refugee status.
UN statistics reveal Pakistan has hosted more than 2.8 million Afghans fleeing decades of war and instability. Of these, approximately 1.3 million are registered refugees with Proof of Registration (PoR) cards, granting legal protection, while 800,000 possess ACCs.
Chaudhry said that 907,351 Afghans were repatriated, including 84,871 during the second phase—25,320 of whom were ACC holders, with the remainder undocumented. Deportees are housed temporarily at Islamabad’s Hajj Complex and reportedly treated fairly.
An Afghan delegation, led by Minister Nooruddin Azizi, held discussions with Chaudhry regarding refugee repatriation. Azizi stressed the importance of a dignified process, according to a statement by the Afghan Embassy on X, and also addressed trade and transit matters.
