Pakistan’s recent decision to suspend visa extension services for Afghan refugees has heightened fears of forced deportations and increased harassment by local authorities. The policy shift, announced by Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi on July 19, 2025, includes halting the renewal of Proof of Registration (PoR) cards, which many Afghans rely on for legal status in Pakistan. Naqvi also stated that deported Afghans will be blacklisted, permanently barring them from re-entering the country.
Approximately 1.5 million registered Afghan refugees, along with many undocumented individuals, currently reside in Pakistan, with a significant number holding PoR cards. The suspension has left refugees, including those who fled Afghanistan after the Taliban’s 2021 takeover, in a state of uncertainty. Many report facing intensified arrests, extortion, and abuse by Pakistani police, with some expressing fears of being sent back to Afghanistan, where they risk persecution or death due to past affiliations with foreign forces or the former Afghan government.
Human rights groups have criticized the move, urging Pakistan to reconsider its policy and protect vulnerable populations. The decision comes amid strained relations between Pakistan and Afghanistan, with trade disruptions and security concerns further complicating the situation. Southasiandesk.com will continue to follow developments in this ongoing crisis.
Published in SouthAsianDesk, July 25th, 2025
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