No more extensions, says PM Shehbaz

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Friday ruled out any further extension for Afghan refugees residing “illegally” in Pakistan and ordered provincial governments and relevant authorities to ensure their “speedy and dignified” repatriation.

Shehbaz, who chaired a high-level meeting on the issue, said Pakistan has “borne the burden for long enough” and that “those without valid visas will have to return home.”

The meeting was attended by Chief of Army Staff (COAS) Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir, federal ministers and chief ministers of Sindh, Balochistan and Punjab, as well as representatives of Gilgit-Baltistan and Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK). Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (KP) was represented by Muzzammil Aslam after KP CM Sohail Afridi excused himself.

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“The brave people of Pakistan, who sacrificed their loved ones in the war against terrorism, are now asking themselves how long will we continue to bear this burden?” Shehbaz said.

Expressing concern over rising terrorist incidents involving Afghan nationals, the prime minister noted that Pakistan had welcomed millions of Afghans for decades despite its own challenges. “It is alarming that attacks are being launched against Pakistan from Afghan soil and that Afghans are found involved in such incidents.”

The meeting was informed that the phased repatriation process had begun and that 1.47 million Afghan citizens had been returned as of October 16. The forum decided that no further grace period would be granted to undocumented Afghans.

The prime minister ordered federal and provincial institutions to “work in close coordination” to complete the process without delay. “Only Afghans who have valid visas will be allowed to stay in Pakistan.”

He instructed relevant authorities to ensure that senior citizens, women, children and minorities are treated with dignity during the repatriation process. “We will not allow any mistreatment, but the law will take its course.”

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Shehbaz said Pakistan’s leadership (including the deputy prime minister, foreign minister and defense minister) had repeatedly engaged with the Afghan interim government in Kabul to ensure that Afghan territory was not used for terrorism, but growing public frustration had made the issue urgent.

The meeting was also briefed on the expansion of exit points along the Afghan border to facilitate smoother and faster repatriation. It was highlighted that harboring illegal Afghan residents or allowing them to stay in guest houses constituted a legal offence.

The prime minister praised the armed forces for responding “with full force” to recent cross-border attacks from Afghanistan.

“Under the leadership of Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir, the Pakistan Army repelled these attacks and demonstrated, as it always has, that our forces know how to defend the homeland,” he said.

Participants, including provincial and regional leaders, hailed Pakistan’s “diplomatic success” and praised the role of the prime minister and army chief in coordinating national efforts on the issue.

The meeting concluded with a unanimous decision to strictly implement all recommendations regarding the repatriation of illegal Afghan nationals.

Heated borders

Meanwhile, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has stated that the current Afghan Taliban regime is not representative of the Afghan people. “There is currently no formal government in Kabul and one group holds power by force,” the FO spokesperson said.

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Tensions rose on the night of October 11-12, when Afghan Taliban forces, supported by “Indian-sponsored Fitna al-Khawarij elements,” launched an unprovoked attack on Pakistan along the border, according to the military’s media wing.

“The cowardly action, which included shooting and some physical attacks, was aimed at destabilizing border areas to facilitate terrorism, furthering FAK’s nefarious designs,” Inter-Services Public Relations said in a statement.

The security forces, exercising the right of self-defence, decisively repelled the attacks along the border and inflicted heavy casualties on the Taliban forces and affiliated Khawarij terrorists, ISPR said.

On October 15, the Ministry of External Affairs announced that Pakistan and the Afghan Taliban regime had agreed to a 48-hour ceasefire following Pakistan’s “precision strikes” against the Taliban and terrorist hideouts in Kandahar and Kabul.

According to the ministry, the decision was made at the request of the Taliban and with the mutual consent of both parties. During the ceasefire, both sides will maintain constructive dialogue to make sincere efforts to find a positive solution to a complex but solvable problem, the ministry said.

“This temporary pause aims to create space for meaningful discussions and promote stability along the border,” the ministry said in a statement.