Like America, now Pakistan is going to exclude the exile on the country on a large scale. The Ministry of Home Affairs of the neighboring country has announced that all Afghan Citizenship Card (ACC) holders and illegal foreign nationals will have to leave the country by 31 March 2025. This decision is part of the government’s illegal foreign withdrawal program (IFRP), which was implemented from 1 November 2023.
According to the statement of the Ministry of Home Affairs, those who do not return voluntarily within this time limit will be forcibly deported from 1 April 2025. Pakistan’s Home Ministry has assured that the process of expulsion will be completed with dignity and no one will be abused.
The government has also said that food and medical facilities have been arranged for the returning people. The Ministry has advised all foreign nationals to fulfill the terms of legal living.
More than 8 lakh Afghan citizenship card holder affected
According to the United Nations (UN) data, more than 8 lakh Afghan Citizenship Card (ACC) holders in Pakistan. There are more than 13 lakh registered Afghan refugees, who have the Niwas Certificate (POR) card. However, it was not clarified in the statement of the Government of Pakistan whether this removal order would be applicable to the POR card holders. So far, more than 8 lakh Afghan citizens have already returned home from Pakistan. In the last four decades, Pakistan has given shelter to about 2.8 crore Afghan refugees.
This order of Pakistan will also affect thousands of Afghan citizens waiting for rehabilitation in America and Western countries. The order of expulsion will also affect thousands of Afghan citizens who are waiting for rehabilitation in the US and other Western countries after the Taliban came to power in 2021.
Decision related to security, economy and politics
This decision has been taken at a time when concerns are increasing about the presence of illegal foreign nationals in Pakistan. The Government of Pakistan has described security reasons, economic pressure and political reasons as the basis of this decision.
1. Terrorism and tension on the border
Pakistan has been supporting strict immigration policy for a long time, claiming that the country is threatened by terrorist groups associated with the Afghan border. Officials say that people living illegally obstruct anti-terrorism operations, especially against Tehriq-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP).
After the Taliban control over Afghanistan in 2021, Pakistan has tightened border security and carried out this massive expulsion campaign.
2. Economic pressure
Pakistan’s economy is going through a serious crisis. Amidst rising inflation, debt and economic instability, the government believes that expelling illegal migrants will reduce the economic burden.
The presence of Afghan refugees has increased pressure on the country’s housing, healthcare and employment market, which has increased economic dissatisfaction in local communities.
3. Domestic political pressure
There has been an increase in public resentment about Afghan refugees, which puts pressure on the government to take strict steps. Many political parties and local leaders have blamed Afghan migrants for increasing crime and unemployment.
Apart from this, in view of the upcoming elections, this decision can also be a part of the strategy of taking political advantage.
4. Bilateral relations with Afghanistan
Since the Taliban government came to power, tension has increased in Pakistan and Afghanistan’s relations. Pakistan has accused the Afghan Taliban of failing to stop cross -border terrorism. The Afghan government has expressed concern about the behavior of Afghan refugees living in Pakistan. This removal policy can also be a way of Pakistan’s Afghan Taliban to pressurize.
Now what next?
With the deadline of March 31, thousands of Afghan citizens are confused about their future. Human rights organizations have criticized this expulsion policy, saying that it can create a serious crisis for thousands of Afghan refugees, including women and children. This decision can have a serious impact of human, political and safety throughout the region, especially when Afghanistan is already struggling to accommodate a large number of refugees returning.