Afghan refugees face forced returns as Pakistan tightens immigration rules

Pakistan’s latest immigration directive orders the removal of Afghan refugees whose stay documents have expired. The deadline for voluntary exit, set for July 10, has passed, prompting a wave of arrests and deportations.

Authorities say the crackdown targets both undocumented migrants and those holding expired visas or Afghan Citizen Cards. The sweep is active in Punjab, Sindh, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Balochistan, Gilgit‑Baltistan and the occupied Kashmir region.

Afghan community representatives describe the situation as a humanitarian crisis. Many families have been unable to renew their visas for over a year, and the prospect of being sent back to Afghanistan—where the Taliban remains in power—has triggered widespread anxiety.

The Taliban’s High Commission for Addressing Return Issues disclosed that more than 4,000 Afghans were repatriated within 24 hours during the recent operation. Returnees fear possible persecution, arbitrary arrests or retaliatory attacks.

The United Nations and several international NGOs have called on Pakistan to suspend forced removals, warning that returning refugees could encounter serious human‑rights violations, including detention without trial and torture.