UN Refugee Agency Urges Pakistan to Extend Deadline for Afghan Migrants
As the deadline set by Pakistan for the expulsion of Afghan migrants approached, the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) called on Islamabad to extend the timeframe.
The request comes amid growing concerns over the humanitarian impact of forcibly deporting Afghan migrants, many of whom have lived in Pakistan for decades.
The UNHCR emphasized that such actions could lead to severe consequences, including family separations, loss of shelter, and limited access to essential services like education and healthcare.
In October 2023, Pakistan announced its “Illegal Foreigners Repatriation Plan,” requiring undocumented migrants, primarily Afghans, to leave by November 2023.
This policy, later expanded to include Afghan Citizen Card (ACC) holders and those with UNHCR-issued Proof of Registration (PoR) cards, affects approximately 1.4 million registered Afghan refugees whose legal status expired on June 30, 2025.
An additional 800,000 ACC holders and undocumented migrants face similar risks. The UNHCR has warned that forced returns violate the principle of non-refoulement, which prohibits sending individuals to places where they face serious threats to their lives or freedom.
The agency expressed particular concern for vulnerable groups, such as women and girls, who face heightened risks under Taliban rule in Afghanistan.
Reports indicate that over 1.2 million Afghans have been forced to return from Pakistan and Iran in 2025 alone, straining Afghanistan’s fragile infrastructure.
The UNHCR has urged Pakistan to ensure returns are voluntary, safe, and dignified, advocating for extended PoR card validity and exemptions for those with medical needs, students, or those in mixed marriages.
