Pakistan’s Interior Ministry has deported 781 undocumented Afghan nationals from Islamabad via the Torkham border crossing, while also announcing plans to address the status of Afghan migrants heading to Europe through diplomatic channels.
Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi emphasized that the government is continuing its repatriation efforts for unauthorized residents. However, Afghan nationals intending to travel to European or other countries will not be sent back to Afghanistan. Instead, their cases will be handled through diplomatic engagement with the relevant countries.
“The Ministry of Foreign Affairs will raise these cases with the concerned countries,” Naqvi explained, distinguishing between undocumented residents and those aiming for further migration.
This initiative is part of Pakistan’s broader strategy to manage its Afghan refugee population, which has a long and complex history dating back to 1979, when the Soviet Union invaded Afghanistan. Since then, Pakistan has hosted millions of Afghan refugees, making it one of the largest refugee-hosting countries in the world. The current repatriation process specifically targets those without legal residence documentation in Pakistan.
The deportation is being carried out through established mechanisms at Torkham, a key border crossing point between Pakistan and Afghanistan.
