ISLAMABAD: Minister of State for Interior Talal Chaudhry has said that terrorist incidents in the country are linked to Afghan nationals and the western border will be regulated like the eastern border. He said that the date of evacuation of Afghan refugees is not being extended further and in the first phase, Afghan citizens who do not have papers are being sent back.
Talal Chaudhry further clarified in his statement that Afghan citizens will no longer come to Pakistan. If they don’t have a passport or visa. “Afghan nationals are being given a dignified send-off, and the decision to repatriate them has been taken in the interest of the country,” he said.
The Minister of State added that the evacuation of illegally staying foreigners is underway and the policy in this regard was formulated on October 30, 2023. Under this policy, in the first phase, people who did not have any papers are being sent back, while in the third phase, the process of returning Afghan cardholders is underway.
Talal Chaudhry said that so far 11,230 foreigners have returned to their homeland, and a total of 857,157 illegally staying foreigners have been sent back home. He said transit points have been set up in all provinces for the evacuation of Afghan citizens. All necessary facilities have been provided to them. In addition, a helpline has also been set up to assist Afghan nationals.
“There are 815,247 Afghan Citizen Card holders registered in Pakistan,” Talal Chaudhry added. He also explained that the Foreign Ministry is in contact with the Afghan authorities, and it is the responsibility of the Afghan interim government to resettle Afghan citizens in their country.
The minister also made it clear that the policy regarding Afghan citizens is not of any single province, but it is the federal policy of Pakistan on which all the provinces have been taken into confidence.
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