Peshawar, March 25, 2025: With the deadline for illegal Afghan nationals to leave Pakistan fast approaching, the Ministry of Interior’s Foreign National Security Cell has formally requested the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) government to provide records of Afghan students residing in the province.
In a letter addressed to KP’s interior secretary, the federal ministry stated that the Foreign National Security Cell is updating its database on foreign nationals and requires the data of Afghan students by March 27.
The request aligns with the federal government’s broader policy, which mandates that all undocumented foreign nationals—including Afghan citizens—must leave Pakistan by March 31.
The Taliban-led interim administration in Afghanistan had earlier appealed to Islamabad to extend the stay of Afghan nationals residing illegally in Islamabad and Rawalpindi. However, Pakistan rejected the request, reinforcing its stance on repatriation.
Afghan nationals with valid documents for travel to another country can remain in Pakistan until March 31 but must depart afterward while those with a valid Pakistani visa may stay only for the duration specified on their visa.
Government sources cite security concerns and the sensitivity of Islamabad and Rawalpindi as key reasons for the expulsion of illegal Afghan nationals.
According to statistics from the Chief Commissioner for Afghan Refugees (CCAR) in February, Pakistan currently hosts approximately 2.9 million Afghan refugees as 1.4 million registered Afghan refugees and 0.7 million unregistered Afghan individuals
The federal government has reiterated that its policy is aimed at ensuring national security and maintaining legal immigration processes.
