The Taliban’s interim administration in Kabul on Tuesday called on Afghan refugees to return home voluntarily, as Pakistan resumed deportations following the March 31 deadline for undocumented migrants and Afghan Citizen Card (ACC) holders to leave the country.
The move is part of an ongoing repatriation drive launched in 2023, which has already resulted in the expulsion of over 800,000 Afghans.
“The Islamic Emirate once again urges Afghan migrants to return voluntarily as Eid Al-Fitr celebrations are underway,” Afghanistan’s state-run Bakhtar news agency reported. “This appeal comes amid a surge in deportations from neighboring countries, particularly Iran and Pakistan.”
Pakistan currently hosts 2.1 million documented Afghan refugees, while hundreds of thousands of undocumented Afghans have lived in the country for decades.
Pakistan’s crackdown coincides with the Eid Al-Fitr celebrations, dampening the festive spirit for thousands of Afghan families.
Amnesty International has criticized Pakistan’s deportation plan, calling it “opaque” and urging Islamabad to reconsider its approach. In a statement, the human rights watchdog warned that enforcing the March 31 deadline would further worsen the plight of Afghan refugees, leaving them vulnerable to hardship and uncertainty.
