Afghanistan Peace Campaign
Pakistan will extend the stay of about 16,000 Afghan women, children and elderly people on humanitarian grounds, while authorities continue reviewing the status of tens of thousands of other Afghans whose legal residency documents are not currently valid.
Foreign Ministry spokesperson Tahir Andrabi said the extension was approved to address humanitarian concerns and protect vulnerable groups. Pakistani officials have previously said that more than 16,000 Afghans had been identified for temporary exemption from repatriation following screening and due diligence.
At the same time, authorities are reviewing the cases of about 89,000 Afghan nationals who do not currently have valid legal residency documents. Andrabi said decisions on their cases would be taken after the relevant procedures are completed.
The decision comes as Pakistan continues its campaign to return Afghan nationals who lack valid legal status. Islamabad has said foreign nationals without valid travel or residency documents remain liable for repatriation, while stressing that humanitarian considerations can be taken into account in vulnerable cases.
The policy has drawn concern from humanitarian organisations, particularly over its impact on access to healthcare. Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) has reported that the threat of arrest and deportation has created a climate of fear among Afghan refugees in Pakistan, with some delaying or skipping medical appointments because they fear being detained.
MSF has called on Pakistan to ensure that Afghan refugees can travel safely to healthcare facilities and receive treatment without facing arrest or deportation. The organisation has warned that the pressure surrounding the repatriation campaign is worsening the humanitarian and health conditions of vulnerable Afghan families.
Pakistan’s latest decision provides temporary relief to a sizeable group of vulnerable Afghans, but it does not represent an end to the wider repatriation campaign. The future of tens of thousands of other Afghan nationals remains uncertain as their cases continue to be reviewed.
The issue has become a major humanitarian and diplomatic concern, with Pakistan balancing its immigration and security policies against calls from humanitarian organisations to protect vulnerable Afghans and ensure access to essential services.