Pakistan Tightens Borders: Urgent Repatriation of Afghan Citizens

Pakistan is set to begin detaining and deporting Afghan Citizen Cardholders who fail to return to Afghanistan by the March 31 deadline. Authorities have arranged facilities for detained individuals and will conduct operations to identify illegal residents. Rights groups have criticized this move as excessively harsh.

In a firm stance on border control, Pakistani officials have finalized plans to detain and deport Afghan Citizen Card (ACC) holders after the March 31 deadline. Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi led a high-level meeting confirming all necessary arrangements.

The Pakistani government maintains its position despite appeals from Afghanistan and human rights groups to extend this deadline. With coordination between federal and provincial levels, centers have been set up to facilitate the deportation process.

As part of wider efforts to manage foreign nationals, the government will implement strict measures against illegal Afghan residents. Rights organizations, including Amnesty International, have condemned the plans, labeling them as harsh and inflexible.

(With inputs from agencies.)