No Extension for Afghan PoR Card Holders, Blacklisting Begins: Interior Minister

Afghan, Pakistan, Afghan PoR Card Holders, Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi, Pakistani pilgrims Missing in Iran & Iraq

Pakistan will no longer extend the Proof of Registration (PoR) cards issued to Afghan nationals, and those who are deported will be blacklisted from re-entering, Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi confirmed during an informal media briefing in Islamabad. The decision marks a tougher stance by the government amid ongoing concerns over illegal residency and national security.

“This is a clear policy shift,” said Naqvi, adding that Afghans sent back from Pakistan will now be permanently barred. The move is expected to affect thousands still living in the country under expired PoR status.

Meanwhile, the minister clarified that recruitment into the Frontier Corps (FC) will continue as usual, particularly involving candidates from tribal areas. His comments came amid rumours of restructuring, which he dismissed, reaffirming that existing protocols for tribal recruitment remain intact.

Turning to Islamabad’s infrastructure, Naqvi addressed recent concerns over a collapsed road section near the Erdogan Flyover. Contrary to speculation, he said the collapse wasn’t due to faulty construction but occurred because Sui Northern Gas had recently laid a pipeline beneath the road. “The excavation led to settling,” he said, assuring that repairs were underway.

On the environmental front, he highlighted urgent steps to expand green zones across Islamabad to combat rising smog levels. Land has also been purchased for relocating police stations that were previously constructed on greenbelt areas.

Speaking on the situation in Iran, the minister rejected reports suggesting that 40,000 Pakistani pilgrims had gone missing. “That figure is not accurate,” he stated, adding that Iran has deported some 300,000 Afghans over the last ten days, a number unrelated to Pakistani pilgrims.

When asked about the possible induction of serving military officers into the Interior Ministry, Naqvi noted that the ministry oversees eight key departments, including Rangers, FC, and Gilgit-Baltistan Scouts, and that the inclusion of military personnel is under review. “No final decision has been made yet regarding whether serving or retired officers will be brought in,” he said.

He also walked back a controversial statement made earlier, in which he had suggested that SHOs were controlling terrorists in Balochistan. “It was just an expression,” Naqvi clarified, “not meant to be taken literally.”

Finally, he denied reports of back-channel diplomacy between Pakistan and India, saying clearly that “no backdoor talks are underway.”

Scroll to Top