Afghanistan Peace Campaign
Pakistan’s Interior Minister confirmed the government will not renew Afghan refugee ID cards, and deported individuals will be blacklisted from re-entering the country.
Pakistan’s Interior Minister, Mohsin Naqvi, has announced that the government will not extend the Proof of Registration (POR) cards issued to Afghan refugees. He also stated that deported individuals will be placed on a blacklist, barring their re-entry into Pakistan.
Naqvi made these remarks on Friday, July 18, during an informal conversation with journalists in Islamabad. His statement signals a firm stance by the Pakistani government on its evolving immigration policy.
According to the interior minister, the expulsion of Afghan refugees and their inclusion in a re-entry blacklist are part of broader changes in Pakistan’s immigration framework. These measures are being taken as part of a new policy direction aimed at tightening border and residency controls.
The deportation of Afghan refugees from Pakistan began last year and has continued steadily. Thousands of Afghan families have been forced to leave, often without consideration of their humanitarian or security circumstances.
This policy shift has sparked criticism from human rights groups and international observers, who warn that the move could further endanger vulnerable populations, especially women and children, returning to uncertain conditions in Afghanistan.
The Pakistani government maintains that its actions are necessary for national security and lawful migration enforcement. However, the lack of legal pathways and the abrupt nature of deportations have raised serious ethical and humanitarian concerns.
As regional instability persists, pressure is mounting on both Pakistan and the international community to find sustainable and humane solutions to the refugee crisis. International cooperation and renewed diplomatic efforts may be critical in addressing the root causes and consequences of forced migration in South Asia.