Pakistan’s Interior Ministry has deported 781 undocumented Afghan nationals from Islamabad through the Torkham border crossing while announcing plans to address the status of Europe-bound Afghan migrants through diplomatic channels.
Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi stated that while the government continues its repatriation efforts for unauthorized residents, Afghan nationals seeking passage to Europe or other countries will not be sent back to Afghanistan. Instead, their cases will be handled through diplomatic engagement with relevant destination countries.
“The Ministry of Foreign Affairs will raise these cases with the concerned countries,” Naqvi said, distinguishing between undocumented residents and those seeking onward migration.
This move is part of Pakistan’s broader effort to manage its Afghan refugee population, which has a complex history spanning over four decades. The country first started receiving Afghan refugees in 1979 following the Soviet Union’s invasion of Afghanistan, with the influx continuing throughout the 1980s.
Pakistan has historically been one of the world’s largest refugee-hosting nations, providing shelter to millions of Afghan nationals fleeing conflict. The current repatriation initiative specifically targets individuals without legal documentation for residence in Pakistan.
Officials are implementing the deportation process through established border mechanisms at Torkham, one of the main crossing points between Pakistan and Afghanistan.
