Afghan refugees arrive from Pakistan at the border in the Spin Boldak district of Kandahar province on December 3, 2023. PHOTO: AFP
ISLAMABAD:
The government decided on Friday to ensure a quick and dignified repatriation of Afghan citizens without further extensions.
The decision was taken after a high-level meeting chaired by the Prime Minister on the repatriation of Afghan refugees, where the Prime Minister reaffirmed Pakistan’s long-standing commitment to supporting Afghanistan in difficult times, but noted that the continued involvement of Afghan nationals in cross-border terrorism was a matter of serious concern.
The Prime Minister directed all provincial governments and relevant federal institutions to work in close coordination to ensure early and orderly repatriation of all Afghan nationals residing illegally in Pakistan, and emphasized that no further extension of their stay would be granted.
The prime minister appreciated Pakistan’s decades-long hospitality towards millions of Afghan refugees despite enormous economic and security challenges, and recalled that Pakistan had suffered heavy losses in the war on terrorism, both in lives and resources.
He noted that despite multiple diplomatic efforts, including high-level visits by the Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister, Defense Minister and other senior officials to Kabul, Pakistan’s concerns regarding the use of Afghan soil by terrorist groups remained unresolved.
“The brave people of Pakistan, who have sacrificed so much in the fight against terrorism, are now rightly wondering how long we can continue to bear the burden of Afghan refugees,” the prime minister said.
The forum was informed that as of October 16, 2025, more than 1.47 million Afghan citizens had already been repatriated in a phased manner. Authorities reported that only those with valid Pakistani visas would be allowed to stay, while the number of exit points at the border was increased to facilitate a faster return process.
The prime minister ordered that the repatriation be carried out in a dignified and humane manner, ensuring in particular respect for the elderly, women, children and members of minority communities. He warned that harboring or sheltering illegal Afghan residents, including allowing them to stay in guesthouses, was a punishable offense under the law.
The Prime Minister also praised the armed forces under the leadership of Field Marshal Asim Munir for effectively repelling the recent cross-border attacks from Afghanistan and reaffirmed that Pakistan’s armed forces have always demonstrated their professional excellence in defending the motherland.
Participants of the meeting, including AJK Prime Minister and provincial leaders, appreciated Pakistan’s diplomatic achievements and praised the leadership of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Field Marshal Asim Munir in steering the national policy on the issue.
Concluding the session, the Prime Minister directed all provincial governments and institutions to fully implement the agreed recommendations and extend full cooperation to ensure timely and dignified repatriation of all illegal Afghan residents from Pakistan.
The meeting was attended by Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir, Chief of Army Staff, federal ministers, Chief Minister of Azad Jammu and Kashmir, Chief Ministers of Punjab, Sindh, Balochistan and Gilgit-Baltistan, and Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister’s Representative Muzzammil Aslam.
