Pakistan orders expulsion of Afghans from Islamabad, Rawalpindi

The Pakistani government has decided to quietly expel Afghan refugees from Islamabad and Rawalpindi, beginning with those holding Afghan Citizen Cards (ACC), as part of a broader relocation plan.

Tens of thousands of Afghans fled to neighboring Pakistan after the Taliban seized power in 2021 and were approved for resettlement in the United States through a program designed to assist individuals at risk due to their work with the American government, media, aid agencies, and rights groups.

However, after President Donald Trump paused U.S. refugee programs last month, roughly 20,000 Afghans remain in limbo in Pakistan.

The Trump administration also announced that the U.S. Refugee Admissions Program would be suspended starting Jan. 27 for at least three months, raising concerns among Pakistani authorities.

The orders by the premier serve as a warning for western nations including the United States which promised resettlement abroad for some Afghan nationals after Taliban retook Afghanistan in 2021.

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has directed the Interior and Foreign Ministries to take immediate action to remove Afghan refugees from the capital Islamabad and its twin city Rawalpindi.

A high-level meeting, chaired by the prime minister, reviewed the plan for the expulsion of Afghans from Islamabad and Rawalpindi in detail.

The meeting was attended by top officials, including the heads of intelligence agencies, Nukta has learnt.

Multiphase plan

The Interior Ministry provided a briefing on Afghan Citizen Card (ACC) holders and Proof of Registration (PoR) cardholders.

The prime minister instructed the ministry to begin Phase I of the relocation plan by immediately removing ACC holders and undocumented Afghan nationals from Islamabad and Rawalpindi and deporting them to Afghanistan.

Phase II will focus on PoR cardholders, who have been granted an extension to stay in Pakistan by the federal Cabinet until June 30, 2025. Although they will not be deported immediately, they will be moved out of the twin cities.

Afghan nationals awaiting resettlement in a third country will be relocated from Islamabad and Rawalpindi by March 31, 2025.

The Foreign Ministry will coordinate with foreign missions to ensure their transfer to their intended destinations. If they are not relocated by the deadline, they will also be deported to Afghanistan.

Intelligence agencies have been tasked with monitoring the effectiveness of the relocation plan and regularly reporting to the Prime Minister’s Office.

The directive also stated that "no public announcements shall be made" regarding the relocation efforts.

The Prime Minister’s Office has sent the instructions to all embassies, including the Afghan Embassy.

According to government sources, approximately 2 million Afghan nationals are living in Pakistan.