Attachments
INTRODUCTION
In response to the Ministry of Interior's (MoI) decision of 26 September 2023
to enact an “Illegal Foreigners' Repatriation Plan”, UNHCR, the UN Refugee
Agency and IOM, the UN Migration Agency, have collated their data on the
arrest, detention, and deportation of Proof of Registration (PoR) holders,
Afghan Citizen Card (ACC) holders, and undocumented Afghan nationals as
well as on the outflows of Afghan nationals at the Torkham, Ghulam Khan,
Chaman, Badini and Bahramcha border crossing points, to better understand
the protection environment and movements of Afghan nationals returning to
Afghanistan from Pakistan.
In 2025, the Government of Pakistan (GoP) issued several directives impacting
Afghan nationals. In January, the GoP announced that Afghan nationals should
relocate from Islamabad Capital Territory (ICT) and Rawalpindi, or else face
deportation. In April, further announcements indicated the implementation of
the second phase of the “IFRP”, targeting ACC holders, in addition to
undocumented Afghans. In July, the GoP issued a Statutory Regulation Order
(SRO) directing the repatriation/deportation of PoR card holders following
the expiry of PoR card validity on 30 June. The GoP later indicated a deadline
of 1 September for PoR holders to leave Pakistan, before the start of the
repatriation/deportation process. UNHCR issued a press briefing expressing
concern regarding the decision and urging the GoP to exempt Afghans with
international protection needs, as well as those with particular circumstances
or vulnerabilities, from involuntary return.