Islamabad/Peshawar, April 03: The second phase of repatriating Afghan refugees is set to resume today (Thursday) following the expiration of the government’s deadline for Afghan Citizen Card (ACC) holders to voluntarily leave the country.
Despite international appeals for an extension, the government had initially set March 31 as the final date for their departure.
However, a brief delay was granted due to Eidul Fitr celebrations.
A senior official from the Afghan Commissionerate in Peshawar stated that while the deadline technically ended on March 31, the provincial authorities allowed a short extension until April 2 for Eid festivities.
“Now, the second phase of repatriation will commence from Thursday. Camps have been set up at Landi Kotal and Nasir Bagh Road to facilitate the process,” the official told media.
The Eid-related extension led to some confusion, with reports suggesting a further postponement of deportations.
While the other media reported that the deadline had been pushed to next week, the Associated Press claimed that arrests and deportations had been paused until April 10.
Law enforcement officials in Islamabad and Rawalpindi also suggested that an unofficial extension had been granted until April 10.
However, an official from the interior ministry denied these claims, stating that no further extension had been approved.
UNHCR Calls for Humanitarian Consideration
Since September 2023, official records show that 69,494 Afghan families—totaling 473,397 individuals, including 157,513 men, 111,381 women, and 197,821 children—have returned to Afghanistan.
The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) has expressed concerns over Pakistan’s directive, emphasizing that some ACC holders might require international protection.
“We urge the government to assess these cases with a humanitarian perspective,” UNHCR spokesperson Qaiser Khan Afridi told media.
He also emphasized the need for diplomatic engagement between Pakistan and Afghanistan to ensure that returns remain dignified and voluntary.
Afghan Government Seeks Humane Treatment
Meanwhile, Afghan Minister for Refugees and Repatriation Mawlavi Abdul Kabir has urged Pakistan to treat refugees humanely, citing reports of mistreatment at border crossings.
He noted that even Afghans with legal visas have faced deportation.
In a statement, the interim Afghan government reiterated its call for voluntary repatriation and urged both Pakistan and Iran to cease forced deportations.
