Pakistan has made an announcement, stating that it will be extending the stay of 1.45 million Afghan refugees who are legally living in the country, a decision made following a recent visit by the U.N. refugee agency. The Afghan refugees with proper documentation will now be allowed to stay in Pakistan until June 30, 2025, as per a statement released by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s office.
Previously, the Pakistani government had ended a stay extension on June 30, causing uncertainty among refugees about possible repatriation. This decision comes after a criticized anti-migrant crackdown initiated last year, targeting individuals without valid documentation, irrespective of their nationality, resulting in an estimated 600,000 Afghans being forced to return home.
Filippo Grandi, the U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees, had urged Pakistani authorities to extend the validity of registration cards for Afghan refugees during his visit. Grandi, who met with Afghan refugees and Pakistani officials during a three-day visit, expressed his appreciation that the repatriation of undocumented individuals had been paused.
However, Pakistani officials were surprised by Grandi’s statement, with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesperson, Mumtaz Zahra Baloch, denying any understanding with the UNHCR about suspending the repatriation of undocumented persons. Baloch clarified that Pakistan’s “Illegal Foreigners Repatriation Plan” was still active and being implemented gradually.
The forced expulsion of Afghans from Pakistan has drawn criticism from U.N. agencies, warning of potential human rights violations, such as family separations and deportations of minors. Pakistan has historically hosted around 1.7 million Afghans, many of whom fled during the Soviet occupation from 1979 to 1989, and later during the Taliban’s rise to power in 2021. A significant number of Afghans are still awaiting resettlement in the United States and other countries.
It is essential to differentiate between undocumented Afghans and officially registered refugees, though concerns have been raised within the refugee communities due to the crackdown, which Pakistan says is not solely targeting Afghans but all foreigners residing unlawfully in the country.