Peshawar:
In the midst of the current repatriation campaign, the Federal Interior Ministry requested a file of Afghan students registered in educational establishments through Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (KP).
According to sources, the ministry’s security unit sent an official letter to the provincial interior secretary, ordering him to submit details on all Afghan students by March 27.
The letter indicates that the foreign national security unit updates the database of its foreign nationals and requires information for this purpose.
The demand comes as the government intensifies its repatriation campaign against illegal foreign residents and holders of Cards from Afghan citizens (ACC).
The deadline for their departure is seven days, Pakistan having already expelled more than 876,000 Afghan undertakers undocumented.
The repatriation process remains in progress.
The federal government established on March 31 as a final deadline for illegal Afghan nationals to leave the country, ensuring that no bad treatment will occur during the process.
The authorities have also concluded provisions for food and health establishments for those who return to Afghanistan.
Officials have warned that strict legal actions will be taken against people who do not leave Pakistan after the deadline.
The federal government’s decision follows its previous directives imposing the departure of all illegal foreign nationals, including Afghan citizens, by March 31.
Previously, the temporary administration led by the Taliban in Kabul had called Islamabad for an extension allowing the undocumented Afghan residents of Islamabad and Rawalpindi to stay longer.
However, Pakistan rejected this request.
Afghan nationals who have valid travel documents for resettlement in another country are allowed to stay in Pakistan until March 31. After this deadline, they also have to leave.
Those who hold a valid Pakistani visa can continue their stay for the time specified on their visa.
Reports have indicated that the government is of the opinion that the expulsion of Afghan nationals has become inevitable due to security and sensitivity problems of twin cities.
According to statistics published by the Chief Commissioner of Afghan Refugees (CCAR) in February, Pakistan is home to around 2.9 million Afghan refugees. Among these, 1.4 million are recorded, while 0.7 million remain undocumented.
