ISLAMABAD: Pakistan is gearing up for the second phase of its repatriation campaign aimed at expelling nearly one million ‘documented’ Afghans back to their homeland.
Authorities have instructed district administrations and police to swiftly map and gather data on the whereabouts of Afghan Citizen Card (ACC) holders across the country.
While no specific date has been announced, officials suggest that the repatriation campaign for hundreds of thousands of ACC holders could commence in early to mid-summer, pending approval from the federal government.
“We have already initiated the mapping process,” stated Abid Majeed, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s additional chief secretary, expressing hopes to conclude the survey before April 30.
According to the UNHCR, there are approximately 2.18 million documented Afghan refugees in Pakistan, including 1.3 million holding Proof of Registration (PoR) cards since the 2006-07 census and an additional 880,000 granted ACCs after a registration drive in 2017.
The recent influx of Afghans into Pakistan following the Taliban’s resurgence in August 2021 has raised security and economic concerns. Although estimates range from 600,000 to 800,000, with some possessing valid travel documents, their future remains uncertain.
Pakistan initiated the first phase of repatriation for “undocumented aliens” in November last year. While official data on the number of departures is unavailable, it is believed to have fallen short of the purported 1.7 million undocumented Afghans.
To address discrepancies, officials have sought revalidation of the undocumented Afghan figure from the Ministry of Interior, highlighting the challenge of distinguishing between ACC holders and PoR cardholders and potential strain on Pakistan-Afghanistan relations.
Despite criticism and concerns, Pakistan remains steadfast in its repatriation efforts, now extending to include documented Afghans, as outlined in Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s 100-day working plan.
Provinces and Azad Jammu & Kashmir have been tasked with completing the mapping and verification of ACC holders by March 25, 2024, although officials anticipate potential delays in the process.
