PESHAWAR, Apr 21, The repatriation of undocumented foreign
nationals and Afghan Citizen Card holders from Pakistan continues at a
steady pace following the expiration of the government’s deadline for
voluntary departure.
On April 20 alone, authorities reported that 3,387 Afghan nationals left
Pakistan, bringing the total number of repatriated individuals to
979,486 since the process began. The large-scale repatriation follows
the conclusion of the government’s deadline for undocumented residents
to leave the country voluntarily.
Pakistani officials have implemented stricter legal measures against
those remaining in the country without documentation, while
simultaneously emphasizing that the repatriation process must be
conducted with dignity and respect.
International humanitarian organizations have been monitoring the
situation, with some expressing concerns about the capacity of
Afghanistan to absorb the returnees, many of whom have lived in Pakistan
for years or even decades.
Pakistani authorities maintain that the repatriation policy applies only
to those staying in the country without proper documentation and is
being implemented in accordance with national immigration laws.
The government has deployed additional personnel at border crossings to
manage the flow of returnees and ensure proper documentation. Officials
have reiterated that legal foreign residents with valid visas or other
documentation are not affected by the current repatriation measures.
As the process continues, government representatives have indicated they
will provide regular updates on the numbers of individuals returning to
Afghanistan and other countries of origin