Pakistan Extends Stay of Afghan Refugees Until June 2024 Amid Repatriation Drive

The Pakistani government has extended the validity of Proof of Registration (PoR) cards for 1.3 million registered Afghan refugees until June 30, 2024. The decision, made by Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif's cabinet on the recommendation of the Ministry of State and Frontier Regions (SAFRON), will allow POR cardholders to continue accessing facilities such as schools, bank accounts, and other services in Pakistan.

The extension comes amid an ongoing repatriation drive targeting illegal foreign nationals, predominantly Afghans, citing security concerns. Pakistan has already expelled over 500,000 undocumented Afghans since November 1, The government has cited the involvement of Afghan nationals in attacks in Pakistan as one of the reasons for the repatriation efforts.

Afghan authorities in Kabul have objected to the deportation drive, disputing that Afghan nationals had any role in Pakistan's security issues. They argue that Pakistan should have consulted them and given more time before sending Afghans back to their country.

Why this matters: The decision to extend the stay of registered Afghan refugees while simultaneously expelling undocumented Afghans highlights the complex relationship between Pakistan and Afghanistan. The repatriation drive has raised concerns among rights activists about the potential repression faced by women and girls under the Afghan Taliban regime.

In addition to the extension of POR cards, the federal cabinet also approved the establishment of an additional special court in the Makran division to handle cases related to narcotics in Balochistan province. The cabinet discussed measures to improve facilities at Pakistan's airports, particularly in Lahore and Karachi, and approved the appointment of four ex-officio members to the Board of the Institute of Cost and Management Accountants of Pakistan.

The ongoing repatriation drive is linked to a spike in terror attacks in Pakistan, with the government accusing the Afghan Taliban of providing a haven to anti-state terrorists, a charge the Taliban denies. Pakistan is not a signatory to the 1951 U.N. convention on refugee rights but has previously run registration drives to provide Afghans with documentation.

Key Takeaways

• Pakistan extends stay of 1.3M registered Afghan refugees until June 2024.
• Pakistan expels over 500,000 undocumented Afghans since Nov 1 citing security concerns.
• Afghan authorities dispute Afghans' role in Pakistan's security issues, demand consultation.
• Extension of refugee stay while expelling undocumented Afghans highlights complex Pakistan-Afghanistan ties.
• Pakistan not a signatory to 1951 UN refugee convention, but has run refugee registration drives.