Afghan refugees in Pakistan have become more and more vulnerable as the government ups the ante in deporting undocumented nationals. Salima Ahmad, an Afghan national who has lived in Pakistan since 2022, learned about this first-hand when police burst into her home just two days after her family’s visas ran out.
Regardless of her tearful pleas and evidence that they had filed renewals, her husband was hauled off. Ahmad was able to obtain their release after bribing for 60,000 rupees (about $216) for their freedom.
Ahmad’s saga sets the context for the larger saga of thousands of Afghan nationals who escaped to Pakistan when the Taliban came back to power in August 2021. The Pakistani government recently unveiled a three-phase initiative for repatriation of Afghan citizens, with the first phase focusing on illegal residents, such as approximately 800,000 who entered without proper visas but got Afghan Citizen Cards (ACC).
The second stage will target Afghan nationals with Proof of Registration (PoR) cards, and the third stage targets those who want to resettle in third countries. If adopted, this plan would only have valid visa holders remaining in Pakistan, effectively bringing to an end the residence of most who had entered illegally.
The UNHCR has raised concerns over this crackdown, urging the Pakistani government to consider the risks of forced returns. With a looming March 31 deadline for Afghan citizens awaiting relocation, many fear deportation if they do not leave in time.
As the plans of the government advance, Afghan asylum seekers such as Ikramullah Jamil, who has lived for most of his life in Pakistan, are left with an uncertain future. The realities of resettlement and the growing hostile situation make them vulnerable and worried about what the future holds.
