ISLAMABAD: The Ministry of Interior has directed authorities across the country to arrest any Afghan national residing in Pakistan without a valid visa from July 10, as part of an intensified nationwide drive against illegal foreign nationals.
In a notification issued to the chief secretaries of all provinces, Gilgit-Baltistan, Azad Jammu and Kashmir, and the chief commissioner of Islamabad Capital Territory, the ministry said the decision was taken during a review meeting on the Illegal Foreigners’ Repatriation Plan held on June 1.
The ministry instructed provincial governments, district administrations, police and other law enforcement agencies to expedite the repatriation and deportation of Afghan nationals, including those who have overstayed their visas, and ensure uniform implementation of the directive.
According to the notification, any Afghan national found residing in Pakistan without a valid visa after July 10, 2026, will be arrested.
The Interior Ministry also directed all relevant authorities to submit daily reports from July 11, detailing the number of undocumented Afghan nationals identified, the action taken against them and their current status.
Usman Hafeez Cheema has been designated as the focal person to receive the reports and coordinate implementation of the repatriation plan. The ministry described the matter as a top priority and instructed authorities to ensure strict compliance.
Pakistan has hosted millions of Afghan nationals over the past several decades, with hundreds of thousands entering the country following the Taliban’s return to power in Afghanistan in 2021.
The government launched a nationwide deportation campaign in 2023, which was further expanded in 2025 after residence permits for hundreds of thousands of Afghans were revoked and they were warned to leave the country or face legal action.
According to information presented to the Senate Standing Committee on Kashmir Affairs, Gilgit-Baltistan and States and Frontier Regions, Pakistan deported 1,155,221 Afghan nationals during 2025.
The deportees included 163,429 Proof of Registration card holders, 74,943 Afghan Citizen Card holders, 509,671 undocumented individuals and 407,178 voluntary returnees.
The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) has reported that repatriations have continued to rise, with nearly 150,000 Afghans returning from Pakistan and Iran by mid-February 2026 as part of a broader regional return process.