Pakistan extends registration cards for Afghanistan refugees amid rising deportations News
Voice of America, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
Pakistan extends registration cards for Afghanistan refugees amid rising deportations

The Ministry of Refugees and Repatriation of Afghanistan announced on Thursday the extension of Proof of Registration (PoR) cards for Afghan refugees in Pakistan for another year. This decision, communicated by the Office of Afghan Immigrant Affairs in Islamabad, extends the validity of PoR cards from June 1, 2024, to June 30, 2025.

Despite assurances that documented refugees will not be targeted, many PoR cardholders report experiencing harassment and the fear of deportation. The PoR card is a critical identity document for Afghan refugees, granting them legal status in Pakistan. Its extension offers some respite, allowing refugees continued access to essential services such as healthcare, education and banking facilities.

UN High Commissioner for Refugees Filippo Grandi welcomed the extension, emphasizing the need for sustainable solutions and support for both Afghan refugees and their host communities. During his recent visit to Pakistan, Grandi called for a reset of the aid model, advocating for new partnerships and innovative approaches to address displacement concerns. He stated, “We need to seize this opportunity to accelerate solutions, and have a bigger, broader vision for the Afghan people in Pakistan.”

The extension comes at a time of heightened tension, with Pakistan intensifying its efforts to deport undocumented foreign nationals. Since the Taliban takeover of Afghanistan in August 2021, many Afghans have fled to Pakistan, seeking safety from persecution. However, they were met with waves of arbitrary detentions, arrests and threats of deportation.

In October 2023, Pakistan announced the ‘Illegal Foreigners’ Repatriation Plan.’ Phase one of this plan gave a 30-day deadline to undocumented Afghan refugees to leave the country or face deportation, putting 1.4 million refugees at risk. The second phase of this repatriation plan targets Afghan Citizen Card (ACC) holders.

The deportation campaign has already resulted in the return of around 669,000 Afghan refugees to Afghanistan, with many individuals leaving behind their homes, properties and communities in Pakistan. The expulsion campaign came in the wake of suicide bombings in 2023. The Pakistan government, without providing providing any evidence, claimed these incidents involved Afghan nationals. The government also blamed the refugees for other militant activities and for putting a strain on the country’s resources.

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