Pakistan begins crackdown on Afghans without valid visas — Pajhwok

KABUL (Pajhwok): All Afghan nationals without valid visas in Pakistan will be arrested and the process of their deportation will be accelerated from today, Dawn reported, citing Pakistan’s Ministry of Interior. According to the report, Pakistan’s Ministry of Interior has issued directives to local administrations and security institutions to arrest Afghan citizens residing in the country without valid visas from July 10 and expedite their deportation. Dawn reported that the directive was sent to senior officials of the provinces, the governments of Gilgit-Baltistan and Azad Kashmir, and the Islamabad Capital Territory administration. It was issued following a review meeting of the Illegal Foreigners Repatriation Plan (IFRP) held on June 1. The directive states that all provincial governments and relevant authorities must implement the arrest and deportation of Afghan nationals, including those whose visas have expired, in a serious and sustained manner and speed up their repatriation. According to the report, from July 11, 2026, local authorities will be required to submit daily reports to Pakistan’s Ministry of Interior on the number of Afghan citizens without valid visas, actions taken against them, and their current status. Meanwhile, the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) has said that the return of Afghan migrants has accelerated this year, with nearly 150,000 Afghans returning to Afghanistan from Pakistan and Iran by mid-February 2026….