Pakistan's Interior Ministry has issued a directive requiring all "illegal foreigners" and Afghan Citizen Card holders to leave the country by March 31. The ministry warned that deportations would begin on April 1 for those who fail to comply.

The government has previously linked security concerns and criminal activities to Afghan migrants, a claim strongly denied by Kabul. In a statement, the ministry reaffirmed Pakistan's commitment as a responsible host but stressed that all foreign nationals must meet legal requirements to remain in the country.

Pakistan launched its repatriation drive in 2023, initially targeting undocumented foreigners. According to UN data, more than 800,000 Afghans in Pakistan hold Afghan Citizen Cards, while another 1.3 million possess Proof of Residence (PoR) cards. The ministry’s statement did not clarify how PoR holders would be affected by the latest directive.

Since the repatriation drive began, over 800,000 Afghans have returned to their homeland. Pakistan has historically hosted around 2.8 million Afghan refugees who fled decades of conflict. Among them are many awaiting resettlement in the United States and other Western nations following the Taliban's takeover in 2021.