March 28, 2025
By Dauran Baloch
QUETTA
As the deadline of March 31 looms ahead, the plight of Afghan refugees in Pakistan has reached a critical juncture. Authorities have intensified deportation efforts, while recent developments, including mass deportations and legal challenges, highlight the deepening humanitarian and legal crisis surrounding Afghan refugees—many of whom have lived in Pakistan for decades.
The recent hearing in the Balochistan High Court regarding the deportation of Afghan refugees has reignited a critical debate on refugee rights and immigration policies in Pakistan. The court’s decision to halt the expulsion of Proof of Registration (PoR) cardholders until June 2025 provides temporary relief, but it fails to offer a permanent resolution to the plight of Afghan refugees. The directive for Afghan Citizen Card (ACC) holders to seek recourse through relevant forums further underscores the legal limbo in which these refugees find themselves. While the government argues that sufficient time has been given for repatriation, human rights activists and legal experts highlight the lack of clear policies and the abrupt nature of the government’s directives.
For over four decades, Afghan refugees have made Pakistan their home. Many were born and raised in the country, contributing significantly to its economy and society. Yet, they now face sudden displacement, a move widely condemned as a violation of human rights. The decision to expel refugees, particularly those with legal documentation, raises pressing concerns about Pakistan’s commitment to international humanitarian obligations.
Mass deportations underway
On March 28, 2025, Pakistani authorities deported 180 Afghan nationals, including women and children, through the Torkham border. These individuals were reportedly detained in Islamabad, Rawalpindi, and Peshawar for illegally residing in Pakistan under Section 14 of the Foreigners Act. Among them, 63 were arrested in Islamabad, 99 in Rawalpindi, and 18 in Peshawar.
In Rawalpindi alone, over 200 Afghans have been repatriated out of 923 detained since the crackdown began. Shockingly, 22 detainees escaped from a holding center in Golra Mor, underscoring the chaotic nature of the deportation process. Many of those detained had expired visas, Afghan Citizen Cards (ACC), or Proof of Registration (PoR) cards—documents that were previously considered valid.
Legal battles and temporary relief
Recently, the Balochistan High Court intervened, halting the expulsion of PoR cardholders until June 2025. However, ACC holders remain in legal limbo, with the government insisting they must leave by March 31. Advocate Nusrat Afghan, representing refugees in court, argues that the government’s deportation policy lacks legal authority, as it was announced via press release rather than an official notification.
Human rights activists and legal experts condemn the abrupt nature of the deportations, particularly for long-term refugees who have built lives in Pakistan. Many Afghan refugees were born and raised in the country, contributing to its economy and society. The government’s selective targeting of lower-income refugees—while wealthy Afghan investors remain unaffected—has raised concerns about class-based discrimination in the deportation drive.
Nusrat Afghan argues that the Pakistani government has failed to issue a formal notification regarding the expulsion. “The policy shift was announced through a press release, which lacks legal authority to overturn existing protections for PoR cardholders,” he said.
According to a 2022 notification by the government, PoR cards remain valid until June 2025. The court’s intervention in upholding this deadline reflects the necessity of legal clarity in dealing with refugee affairs.
On the other hand, ACC holders face a more precarious situation. Unlike PoR cardholders, they are being compelled to leave without adequate notice. The March 7 policy announcement set an impractically short deadline of March 31, ignoring the fact that these refugees have built lives, businesses, and families in Pakistan. The legal team representing them has requested a minimum extension of three to four months to facilitate an orderly transition, rather than an abrupt eviction that disregards humanitarian considerations.
Economic and humanitarian fallout
Afghan refugees have been integral to Pakistan’s economy, working as laborers, business owners, and traders in cities like Quetta, Peshawar, and Karachi. Their sudden expulsion disrupts livelihoods and leaves families in distress. The Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) and other organizations argue that Pakistan must adopt a more humane approach, offering pathways to legal status for long-term residents.
Amnesty International’s Deputy director for South Asia has also condemned the move.
“It is disingenuous to frame Afghan refugees as a menace to the cities of Islamabad and Rawalpindi,” she said in a press statement released March 26. “The Government of Pakistan is only making a scapegoat of a community that has long been disenfranchised and fleeing persecution,” said Isabelle Lassée.
A call for policy reform
The current crisis demands a structured and rights-based approach. Instead of arbitrary crackdowns, Pakistan should:
1. Extend legal protections: Grant PoR and ACC holders an extended stay and an opportunity to regularize their status.
2. Engage international agencies: Collaborate with the UNHCR to ensure deportations comply with international human rights standards.
3. Consider citizenship pathways: Follow global examples (like Germany and Canada) by offering residency or citizenship to refugees who have spent decades in Pakistan.
Background
Between September 2023 and February 2025, Pakistan deported at least 844,499 Afghan nationals back to Afghanistan where they will be at real risk of persecution by the Taliban as well as a serious economic crisis. Many of those who will be deported include those who have already been in the crosshairs with the Taliban-led Afghanistan government, and include journalists, human rights defenders, women protestors, artists, and former government officials.
In January 2025, the Pakistan government had assured the Supreme Court that all Afghan refugees who have been registered in ‘any way’ would not be ‘apprehended’ nor ‘deported’. Earlier in March, the Islamabad High Court had directed authorities to cease all harassment of PoR card holders.
As the March 31 deadline looms, Afghan refugees face an uncertain future. While the court’s intervention offers temporary relief, a lasting solution requires policy reform that balances security concerns with humanitarian obligations. Pakistan must decide whether to uphold justice and dignity for refugees or continue with ad-hoc measures that exacerbate suffering.