Pakistan orders police to refrain from harassing Afghan migrants
Pakistan’s government has directed police nationwide to stop harassing Afghan migrants holding valid registration cards, as their legal status remains under review.
In a significant move, Pakistan’s Ministry of States and Frontier Regions has directed law enforcement authorities across the country to halt any detentions or harassment of Afghan migrants holding Proof of Registration (PoR) cards. According to Samaa News Pakistan, the directive was issued to ensure the protection of over 1.3 million registered Afghan refugees whose legal stay in the country expired on June 30, 2025.
The official notification, addressed to the administrations of Pakistan’s four provinces, Azad Jammu and Kashmir, and Gilgit-Baltistan, instructs them to immediately suspend any enforcement actions targeting these individuals. Police chiefs in Islamabad, Kashmir, and other security agencies have also been told not to arrest or intimidate PoR card holders, as their legal status is still under review by the federal government.
A senior government official, speaking on condition of anonymity, revealed that a proposal to extend the stay of these Afghan refugees by three to six months is currently under consideration. However, no final decision has yet been made by the federal cabinet. The official warned that without an extension, these migrants would be left without legal protection starting July 4, effectively turning them into undocumented residents overnight.
Last year, the Pakistani government granted a one-year extension to PoR card holders, a move widely appreciated by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) and other international humanitarian agencies. The expiration of that grace period has now placed these migrants in a precarious legal and humanitarian position.
The uncertainty surrounding the extension has raised concerns about the welfare and safety of Afghan refugees, many of whom have lived in Pakistan for decades. According to the UNHCR, Pakistan hosts over 3 million Afghans, including both registered refugees and undocumented migrants, making it one of the largest protracted refugee-hosting countries in the world.
Observers warn that the delay in decision-making reflects deeper tensions between domestic political considerations and international humanitarian responsibilities. A clear and timely resolution is urgently needed to avoid further marginalization of vulnerable populations and to maintain Pakistan’s commitment to international refugee protection norms.
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