Key points
- Afghan consul general says natural for refugees to have concerns about life in Afghanistan
- Currently, around 3.5 million Afghan nationals are living in Pakistan
ISLAMABAD: In a first, an Afghan interim government representative in Pakistan has made a categorical statement regarding the repatriation of Afghan refugees, assuring them of complete support and assistance in settling back in their home country upon return.
During a media briefing in Peshawar, Afghan Consul General Hafiz Mohibullah Shakir said, “On the second day of Eid, I met with Emirul Momineen Hibatullah Akhundzada in Kandahar, where the topic of repatriating Afghan refugees was discussed.”
“The Emir informed us that a special commission has been formed under the leadership of Abdul Salam Hanafi to oversee the return process. The commission is comprised of the heads of ministries, including Interior, foreign affairs, defence, and rehabilitation,” the Afghan consul general said.
He added that under this commission, 12 subcommittees have been established, each responsible for various aspects of the repatriation process.
“Many Afghan refugees have spent over 45 years in Pakistan, so it’s natural for them to have concerns about what life in Afghanistan will be like,” Shakir said.
“But they should rest assured: peace has been restored, the country is now led by a religious scholar, and refugees will have the freedom to start businesses and invest wherever they choose. Land will be allocated in every province for industrial and commercial use. Afghanistan won’t be rebuilt by Russians or Americans—it will be rebuilt by Afghans.”
Afghan delegation
The Afghan consul general also shared that a high-level Afghan delegation is currently in Pakistan to devise a mechanism to address issues faced by Afghan businessmen, including pending payments and financial disputes with locals.
He revealed that a large camp has been set up for returning refugees at Torkham, where healthcare, food, and other essential services are being provided.
“Of course, there will be initial difficulties,” he admitted, “but these challenges will be resolved. Once they return, many refugees will likely wonder why they didn’t come back sooner.”
In March, the Pakistani government announced that all Afghan nationals residing in the country would be repatriated.
Repatriation process underway
Over 800,000 Afghan Citizen Cardholders were given a deadline of March 31 to leave, after which the repatriation process began.
According to the Ministry of Interior, over 22,000 cardholders and more than 17,000 undocumented Afghans have returned home via the Torkham border alone.
Most of those returning had been living in various districts of Punjab. In Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, no major crackdown has yet been carried out.
The Pakistani government initially decided to begin the deportation process in September 2023, following a deteriorating security situation.
Since then, more than 510,000 Afghan nationals have returned home. Currently, Afghan refugees holding Proof of Registration (PoR) cards have been given until June 30, 2025, to return.
According to the Pakistani government, there are currently around 3.5 million Afghan nationals living in the country.
This includes over 800,000 Afghan Citizen Cardholders, 1.3 million PoR cardholders, over 400,000 visa holders, and nearly one million undocumented Afghans.
