Afghan citizens without visas to be sent home immediately, says PM Sharif

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan on Friday reaffirmed its stance that Afghan nationals residing in the country without valid visas will be repatriated, reiterating that no further concessions will be granted.

Chairing a high-level meeting on the issue, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said the government could no longer bear the burden of undocumented Afghan nationals.

He emphasized that no individual or group in Pakistan would be allowed to shelter or provide refuge to illegal residents.

“People ask how long Pakistan will continue carrying the burden of Afghan refugees,” the prime minister said, while also expressing concern over the reported involvement of some Afghans in terrorist activities within Pakistan.

The meeting was attended by Chief of Army Staff Field Marshal Asim Munir, the chief ministers of Punjab, Sindh, Balochistan, and Gilgit-Baltistan, along with senior cabinet members and federal officials. Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Sohail Afridi, however, did not attend.

Officials briefed the participants that over 1.47 million Afghan nationals have returned to Afghanistan as of October 16, since the launch of the phase-wise repatriation plan.

The government has decided that only those holding valid visas will be permitted to stay in Pakistan.

To expedite the process, authorities are increasing the number of exit points along the Pakistan–Afghanistan border and have urged public cooperation to prevent anyone from providing illegal shelter to undocumented Afghans.

The meeting concluded with directives to ensure strict implementation of all recommendations and for provincial governments to assist in executing the repatriation plan.