As the government’s deadline for undocumented foreigners to leave the country expired, Afghan nationals in several cities began packing their belongings, with some leaving voluntarily while others faced forced repatriation.
Authorities have intensified efforts to enforce the “forced repatriation” of Afghan Citizen Card (ACC) holders, with law enforcement agencies conducting operations across multiple cities. Afghan-run businesses in commercial areas, particularly in Peshawar, have been closed since Eid as part of the crackdown.
Read more: Pakistan Extends Afghan Deportation Deadline Amid Eid Holidays
In line with NADRA’s national re-verification campaign, many Afghan nationals had their Pakistani identity cards revoked. A significant crackdown is expected after April 11, with 153 Afghan refugees already voluntarily returning to Afghanistan. The Eid reprieve has ended, and authorities are warning of impending arrests. While no detentions have been made in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa yet, sources indicate that arrests are imminent.
In Rawalpindi, over 50 ACC holders were detained during police operations and moved to temporary camps, where they and their families will be repatriated to Afghanistan.
The operations are ongoing and will be conducted daily. Similarly, in Karachi, authorities have begun implementing the federal government’s policy of deporting undocumented foreign nationals, with more than 150 ACC holders already detained in the city. Authorities are targeting an estimated 16,138 individuals, with 196 Afghans detained as of April 3.
