ISLAMABAD, June 29 (Xinhua) -- Pakistan's Ministry of Interior has directed authorities nationwide to immediately arrest any Afghan national found residing in the country without a valid visa from July 10, according to an official notification issued on Sunday.
The directive, sent to the chief secretaries of all provinces, the northern Gilgit-Baltistan region, Pakistan-controlled Kashmir, and the Islamabad Capital Territory administration, follows decisions made during a June 1 review meeting on the Illegal Foreigners' Repatriation Plan.
The ministry instructed provincial governments, district administrations, police and other law enforcement agencies to expedite the repatriation and deportation of Afghan nationals, including those with visa overstays, and to ensure strict implementation of the repatriation plan.
The notification also directed authorities to submit daily reports to the ministry from July 11 on the number of Afghan nationals found without valid visas, the action taken against them, and their current status.
Pakistan launched a nationwide crackdown on undocumented foreigners in 2023 and expanded the repatriation drive last year after revoking residence permits held by hundreds of thousands of Afghan nationals.
According to the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, more than 1 million Afghans returned from Pakistan to Afghanistan in 2025. The UN agency said repatriation continued in 2026, with nearly 150,000 Afghans returning from Pakistan and Iran by mid-February. ■
