Islamabad: In response to a decision by Pakistan’s Ministry of Interior to implement the “Illegal Foreigners’ Repatriation Plan,” the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR) and the International Organization for Migration (IOM) have released data on the arrest, detention, and deportation of Afghan nationals from the country. This plan affects holders of Proof of Registration (PoR) cards, Afghan Citizen Cards (ACC), and undocumented Afghan nationals, with the movements of these individuals monitored at key border crossings including Torkham, Ghulam Khan, Chaman, Badini, and Bahramcha.

According to Relief Web, the Government of Pakistan (GoP) has issued several directives impacting Afghan nationals in recent years. In January 2025, Afghan nationals were instructed to relocate from Islamabad Capital Territory and Rawalpindi, with the threat of deportation for non-compliance. By April, a second phase of the repatriation plan targeted ACC holders and undocumented Afghans. In July, a Statutory Regulation Order mandated the repatriation of PoR card holders, following the expiration of their card validity on June 30. The government set a deadline of September 1 for PoR holders to leave the country before the deportation process commenced. In response, UNHCR has expressed concerns over the plan, urging the Pakistani government to exempt Afghans with international protection needs or those facing particular vulnerabilities from forced return.