The Kabul Tribune (KT) — Pakistan's Interior Ministry has ordered authorities across the country to immediately arrest any Afghan national found residing in the country without a valid visa beginning July 10, 2026, according to a report by Dawn newspaper.
According to Dawn, the Interior Ministry issued the
directive on June 28, 2026, in a notification addressed to the chief
secretaries of all provinces, as well as the administrations of
Gilgit-Baltistan, Azad Jammu and Kashmir and the Islamabad Capital Territory.
The report said the order follows decisions made during a
review meeting of the Illegal Foreigners' Repatriation Plan (IFRP) held on June
1, 2026.
According to the notification, provincial governments,
district administrations, police and other law enforcement agencies have been
instructed to accelerate the repatriation and deportation of Afghan nationals,
including those who have overstayed their visas, and to strictly enforce the
repatriation plan.
The notification states that, effective July 10, 2026, any
Afghan citizen found living in Pakistan without a valid visa must be arrested
immediately.
Dawn reported that the Interior Ministry also directed
authorities to ensure the measure is implemented uniformly across the country
and instructed deputy commissioners, district administrations, police and other
law enforcement agencies to enforce the order.
The ministry further instructed provincial authorities to
submit daily reports beginning July 11, 2026, detailing the number of Afghan
nationals found without valid visas, the action taken against them and their
current status.
According to Dawn, the notification described the matter as
a top priority and called for full compliance by all relevant authorities.
The directive comes as Pakistan continues to tighten
immigration enforcement and expand its campaign to repatriate undocumented
foreign nationals, including Afghan citizens.
