Pakistan Orders Undocumented Foreigners and Afghan Nationals to Leave by March 31

The Pakistani Interior Ministry has issued a final warning to undocumented foreigners and Afghan Citizen Card holders, urging them to leave the country by March 31 or face deportation.

The ministry announced on Friday that all illegal foreign residents must voluntarily exit Pakistan before the deadline. Those failing to comply will be forcibly expelled after March 31.

Pakistan has long linked Afghan refugees to militant attacks and criminal activities, although the Afghan interim government has denied these allegations.

In its latest statement, the Interior Ministry reiterated that Pakistan has fulfilled its responsibilities as a responsible state but emphasized that all individuals residing in the country must meet legal requirements.

Pakistan began its crackdown on illegal foreigners in 2023, targeting individuals lacking legal documentation. The government initially stated that it would focus on those without valid residency permits.

Afghan Population in Pakistan

According to UN data, Pakistan currently hosts:

• Over 800,000 Afghan Citizen Card (ACC) holders.
• Approximately 1.3 million registered Afghan refugees with Proof of Residence (PoR) cards issued by the Pakistani government.

However, the latest government statement does not clarify whether PoR card holders are also subject to the March 31 deadline.

Thousands of Afghans Still Stranded

Pakistan has sheltered around 2.8 million Afghan nationals over the past four decades. Since the government’s deportation campaign began, over 800,000 Afghans have returned to their home country.

Among those affected are thousands of Afghans who fled after the 2021 U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan and are still awaiting resettlement in the U.S. and other Western countries.