ISLAMABAD: The Government of Pakistan is intensifying its national expulsion campaign. The campaign is targeting “illegal foreigners.”

Officials recently announced the mandated closure of all 54 Afghan refugee villages nationwide. This action follows a key policy shift.

On June 30 this year, the government ceased the renewal of Proof of Registration (PoR) cards. This move effectively invalidated existing permits.

It revokes the legal status for hundreds of thousands of long-term Afghan residents. The expulsions happen amidst severely strained diplomatic relations.

This follows recent military clashes between Pakistan and the Taliban administration in Afghanistan.

Officials from both countries, however, met in Doha. They signed a ceasefire agreement on Sunday. Further diplomatic talks are scheduled for Istanbul on October 25.

The UNHCR reports a massive outflow. More than 1.5 million Afghans have departed Pakistan since the start of the campaign in 2023.

Yet, approximately 1.2 million PoR cardholders and 737,000 Afghan citizenship cardholders remain. They now face the threat of forced repatriation.