Pakistan intends to expel 3 million Afghan Refugees this year, following the expiration of a Monday deadline for their voluntary departure from the capital region and surrounding areas.

This marks the continuation of a nationwide crackdown, initiated in October 2023, aimed at deporting undocumented foreigners, primarily Afghans. The campaign has faced criticism from human rights organizations, the Taliban administration, and the United Nations.

While arrests and deportations were initially scheduled for April 1, they were postponed to April 10 due to the Eid al-Fitr holidays. Data from the International Organization for Migration indicates that approximately 845,000 Afghans have left Pakistan in the last year and a half. Pakistan reports that 3 million Afghans remain in the country, with varying documentation statuses: 1,344,584 holding Proof of Registration cards, 807,402 possessing Afghan Citizen Cards, and an additional 1 million residing in the country without valid papers.