Ansar M Bhatti
ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif chaired a high-level meeting on Friday to review progress regarding the repatriation of Afghan refugees from Pakistan. The meeting was attended by Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir, Chief of Army Staff, federal ministers, the Prime Minister of Azad Jammu and Kashmir, chief ministers of Punjab, Sindh, Balochistan, and Gilgit-Baltistan, as well as senior federal and provincial officials. The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government was represented by Muzzammil Aslam in place of Chief Minister Sohail Afridi.
Welcoming the participants, the Prime Minister reiterated the federal government’s commitment to working closely with all provinces, particularly Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, for the welfare and development of their people. He emphasized that Pakistan has stood by Afghanistan through decades of hardship, but expressed deep concern over the increasing number of terrorist attacks originating from Afghan soil.
The Prime Minister noted that Pakistan had suffered thousands of casualties and billions in economic losses in the war against terrorism. He said the Afghan government had been repeatedly urged — through diplomatic channels and senior-level visits — to prevent the use of Afghan territory for attacks against Pakistan.
The forum was informed that the phased repatriation of Afghan refugees is already underway. As of October 16, 2025, a total of 1,477,592 Afghans have been repatriated. The government has decided not to grant any further extensions and emphasized that only Afghans holding valid Pakistani visas will be allowed to remain. Exit points along the border are being expanded to facilitate a smoother process.
The meeting was also briefed that sheltering undocumented Afghans or allowing them to stay in guesthouses constitutes a criminal offense. Citizens will be encouraged to support the government’s repatriation policy, ensuring the process is conducted lawfully and respectfully.
Prime Minister Shehbaz directed that elderly persons, women, children, and minorities be treated with dignity during repatriation. He lauded Field Marshal Asim Munir and the Pakistan Armed Forces for their firm and professional response to recent Afghan provocations, noting that the nation stands united behind them.
At the conclusion, the forum resolved to implement all recommendations strictly and reaffirmed full coordination between the federal and provincial governments to ensure the early and orderly return of all illegal Afghan residents from Pakistan.
