Pakistan to arrest Afghan nationals without valid visas from July 10

 The directive was issued through a notification sent to the chief secretaries of all provinces, as well as the administrations of Gilgit-Baltistan, Azad Jammu and Kashmir, and the Islamabad Capital Territory. The move follows a June 1 review meeting on the Illegal Foreigners' Repatriation Plan (IFRP).

During the meeting, provincial governments and relevant authorities were instructed to accelerate the repatriation and deportation of Afghan nationals, including individuals who have remained in Pakistan after the expiry of their visas.

The Interior Ministry directed police, district administrations, deputy commissioners and other law enforcement agencies to ensure the policy is implemented nationwide.

Under the new instructions, authorities will begin submitting daily reports from July 11 detailing the number of Afghan nationals found without valid visas, the action taken against them and the progress of their cases.

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The government has classified the implementation of the directive as a high-priority matter and ordered all concerned authorities to ensure strict compliance.

Pakistan has provided refuge to millions of Afghan nationals over the past several decades amid successive conflicts in Afghanistan. In 2023, the government launched a nationwide deportation campaign, which was later expanded following the cancellation of multiple categories of residence permits.

According to official figures, more than 1.1 million Afghan nationals were deported from Pakistan in 2025, including undocumented migrants, card holders and individuals who chose to return voluntarily.

The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) reported that returns from Pakistan and Iran increased in 2026, with thousands of Afghans going back to Afghanistan.