Islamabad: As per a joint report by the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR) and the International Organization for Migration (IOM), there has been a significant decrease in the arrest, detention, and deportation of Afghan nationals in Pakistan. This update covers the period from September 15, 2023, to June 29, 2024, following the Pakistani Ministry of Interior’s enactment of the “Illegal Foreigners’ Repatriation Plan” (IFRP) on September 26, 2023.
According to The UN Refugee Agency, The report indicates a marked reduction in enforcement activities since the peak months of October and November 2023. Additionally, the Ministry of States and Frontier Regions (SAFRON) extended the validity of the Proof of Registration (PoR) card for Afghan nationals until June 30, 2024, a move that may have contributed to the decreased rate of legal actions against these individuals.
Key findings from the report reveal that arrests and detentions decreased by 15 percent in the last two weeks of June 2024 compared to the earlier part of the month. Afghan Citizen Card (ACC) holders and undocumented Afghan nationals constituted 77 percent of these incidents. The province of Balochistan recorded the highest number of arrests and detentions, with 67 percent occurring there during the latest reporting period.
The districts of Chagai and Pishin in Balochistan, along with Karachi in Sindh, were identified as the top locations for these arrests and detentions in the first half of 2024.