PM orders expedited, dignified repatriation of Afghans, rules out any further extension

• Premier Shehbaz says no more extensions will be granted for stay of illegal Afghan residents
• Directs provinces and federal bodies to coordinate for early, orderly repatriation, stressing dignity of women, children and minorities
• Expresses concern over continued involvement of Afghan nationals in cross-border terrorism
• Says only visa-holding Afghans allowed to stay as more exit points being opened to speed returns
• Lauds Pakistan Armed Forces under Field Marshal Asim Munir for repelling cross-border attacks

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif on Friday directed all provincial governments and relevant federal institutions to ensure the expedited and dignified repatriation of Afghan nationals residing illegally in Pakistan, making it clear that no further extension would be granted for their stay.

Chairing a high-level meeting on the repatriation of Afghan refugees, the prime minister reaffirmed Pakistan’s longstanding support for Afghanistan in times of difficulty but expressed grave concern over the continued involvement of Afghan nationals in cross-border terrorism and other security challenges.

“All provincial governments and federal departments must work in close coordination to ensure early, orderly, and respectful repatriation,” the prime minister emphasized, according to an official statement.

The meeting was attended by Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir, Chief of Army Staff, federal ministers, the Prime Minister of Azad Jammu and Kashmir, chief ministers of Punjab, Sindh, Balochistan, and Gilgit-Baltistan; as well as Muzzammil Aslam, representative of the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa chief minister.

وزیراعظم محمد شہباز شریف کی زیرِ صدارت افغان پناہ گزینوں کی وطن واپسی کے حوالے سے اعلیٰ سطحی اجلاس

وزیرِ اعظم نے ہدایت کی کہ تمام صوبائی حکومتیں، وفاقی و صوبائی ادارے قریبی تعاون کے ساتھ پاکستان میں غیر قانونی طور پر موجود افغان باشندوں کی جلد از جلد وطن واپسی یقینی بنائیں۔… pic.twitter.com/BiLfqlBj7d

— Government of Pakistan (@GovtofPakistan) October 17, 2025

The prime minister lauded Pakistan’s decades-long hospitality toward millions of Afghan refugees despite severe economic and security pressures, recalling that the country had borne immense losses in the fight against terrorism—both in lives and resources.

He noted that despite repeated diplomatic engagements—including visits by the Deputy Prime Minister, Foreign Minister, and Defence Minister to Kabul—Pakistan’s concerns over the use of Afghan soil by terrorist groups remained unaddressed.

“Pakistan’s brave people, who have sacrificed so much in the fight against terrorism, now rightly ask how long we can continue bearing the burden of Afghan refugees,” the prime minister remarked.

Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif chairing a meeting regarding repatriation of Afghan Refugees. pic.twitter.com/HVTEsi1xho

— Government of Pakistan (@GovtofPakistan) October 17, 2025

Officials informed the forum that, as of October 16, 2025, over 1.47 million Afghan nationals had already been repatriated in a phased process. Only those with valid Pakistani visas would be permitted to stay, while the number of border exit points was being expanded to accelerate returns.

The prime minister instructed that the repatriation process be conducted humanely and respectfully, ensuring dignity for women, children, the elderly, and minorities, and warned that harboring or sheltering illegal Afghan residents would be treated as a punishable offense.

He also praised the Pakistan Armed Forces, under the leadership of Field Marshal Asim Munir, for repelling recent cross-border attacks and reaffirmed their “unmatched professional excellence” in safeguarding national security.

The meeting participants, including the provincial leaders and the Prime Minister of AJK, commended the federal government’s diplomatic and security approach and assured full cooperation in implementing the national policy.

The prime minister directed all provincial and federal authorities to fully execute the agreed plan for the timely and dignified repatriation of all illegal Afghan residents from Pakistan.