Key Points
- The government decides no further extensions will be granted
- 47 million Afghans have already returned; more exit points to be opened for faster repatriation.
- PM directed that the process remain lawful and respectful, warning against sheltering illegal Afghans.
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Prime Minister Muhammad Shahbaz Sharif on Friday chaired a high-level meeting to review and finalise measures for the repatriation of Afghan refugees illegally residing in Pakistan.
The session was attended by Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir, Chief of Army Staff, federal ministers, chief ministers of all provinces and regions, and senior civil and military officials, according to a PM House statement.
The meeting decided that no further extensions would be granted to Afghan nationals living illegally in Pakistan, reaffirming that only those holding valid Pakistani visas would be permitted to stay. A detailed briefing revealed that as of October 16, 2025, a total of 1,477,592 Afghans had already returned home under a phased repatriation plan.
To accelerate the process, it was agreed that additional exit points would be opened on the Afghan side, ensuring a smoother and faster return. The Prime Minister directed all federal and provincial authorities to ensure strict implementation of the repatriation plan and close coordination between institutions.
Shahbaz Sharif reiterated Pakistan’s commitment to conducting the operation humanely and respectfully, instructing officials to ensure that elderly persons, women, children, and minorities among the refugees are treated with dignity. He warned that harbouring or accommodating illegal Afghans would be treated as a criminal offense, urging citizens to cooperate fully with law enforcement agencies.
Expressing concern over terrorist activities originating from Afghan soil, the Prime Minister said Pakistan has exhausted all diplomatic channels to urge the Afghan interim government to curb cross-border militancy. “The people of Pakistan, who have sacrificed their loved ones in the war on terror, now ask how long the nation will continue to shoulder this burden,” he remarked.
Commending Pakistan’s armed forces for their “befitting response” to recent cross-border attacks, the Prime Minister lauded Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir’s leadership, saying the military has once again proven its professionalism and resolve in defending the homeland.
Leaders from Azad Jammu and Kashmir, Punjab, Sindh, Balochistan, Gilgit-Baltistan, and the representative of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa praised the central government’s firm stance and appreciated the diplomatic and security leadership of Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif and Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir during this critical phase.
Concluding the meeting, the Prime Minister directed all provinces and institutions to extend full cooperation for the timely, lawful, and humane repatriation of Afghan refugees, reaffirming Pakistan’s dual commitment to national security and regional stability.
