Pakistan has decided to further accelerate the repatriation of illegally residing Afghan nationals following the expiry of the government’s July 10 deadline, with authorities directing law enforcement agencies to intensify nationwide enforcement against foreigners staying in the country without valid travel documents.
Under the latest directives, any Afghan national found residing in Pakistan without a valid visa will be taken into custody immediately before being processed for deportation in accordance with the country’s immigration laws. Authorities have also been instructed to submit daily progress reports to the Ministry of Interior, detailing the number of undocumented Afghan nationals detained, the action taken against them, and their current legal status.
The move comes amid Pakistan’s broader strategy to strengthen border management, regulate the presence of foreign nationals, and address security concerns linked to illegal immigration.
The renewed enforcement drive follows a series of high-level national security decisions taken in recent weeks. During the recent Corps Commanders’ Conference, the military leadership reaffirmed the state’s resolve to dismantle terrorist networks and their support structures, emphasizing the need for strict implementation of existing laws governing undocumented foreign nationals, particularly in the context of Pakistan’s ongoing counterterrorism campaign.
The policy was further reinforced during the Apex Committee meeting in Quetta, where the country’s political and military leadership pledged to eliminate terrorism in all its forms and directed authorities to deny terrorists and their facilitators any operational space. Participants also stressed the importance of effective border control, strict documentation of foreign nationals, and the continued implementation of the government’s repatriation policy as part of wider efforts to enhance national security and internal stability.
Officials have repeatedly maintained that Pakistan’s repatriation policy is aimed exclusively at individuals residing in the country illegally and is being implemented under domestic laws and internationally recognized immigration principles. Islamabad has also stated that foreign nationals possessing valid visas or other legal documentation have nothing to fear and may continue to reside in Pakistan in accordance with the law.
The Ministry of Interior had formally initiated the implementation process on June 28, 2026, by writing to the chief secretaries of all four provinces, as well as those of Gilgit-Baltistan and Azad Jammu and Kashmir, in addition to the Chief Commissioner of Islamabad. The ministry directed provincial administrations to ensure full implementation of the government’s decisions and instructed deputy commissioners, police authorities and other law enforcement agencies to take all necessary administrative and legal measures to enforce the policy effectively.
Officials say the enhanced enforcement mechanism, including mandatory daily reporting to the Ministry of Interior, is intended to ensure close monitoring of the nationwide operation and guarantee uniform implementation of the government’s directives across all provinces and administrative units.
