Pakistan tells Afghan Citizen Card holders to leave by March 31

The government of Pakistan has established March 31 as the cutoff date for Afghan Citizen Card (ACC) holders to exit Pakistan voluntarily, as part of an initiative to return all unauthorized foreigners, based on an official document.

The document, allegedly disclosed to the media on Friday night, suggested that the ACC holders residing in Islamabad and Rawalpindi would be displaced and returned to Afghanistan under a multi-stage relocation strategy for Afghan migrants, which encompasses individuals awaiting resettlement in other countries.

The choice arises amid worsening relations between Islamabad and Kabul regarding terrorism, potentially affecting more than 800,000 documented Afghan refugees who possess Afghan Citizen Cards and fall under the category of documented refugees, as opposed to countless undocumented individuals.

It mentioned that the Illegal Foreigners Repatriation Programme (IFRP) began on November 1, 2023, and in “continuation of the government’s resolution to repatriate all illegal foreigners, the national leadership has now resolved to repatriate ACC holders as well.”

It underscored that ample time has been provided for their respectful return and emphasized that no one will face mistreatment during the repatriation process, with provisions for food and healthcare for returning foreigners also established.

It ended by stating that Pakistan has been a generous host and continues to meet its commitments and responsibilities as a responsible nation.

It is emphasized that persons residing in Pakistan must complete all legal requirements and adhere to Pakistan’s Constitution,” it stated. This choice may also make the relocation of nearly 15,000 Afghans awaiting transfer to the United States more challenging after President Donald Trump suspended the US Refugee Admission Program last month, putting at risk the return of those Afghans who came to Pakistan following the US exit from Afghanistan in 2021.