ISLAMABAD: The Taliban interim administration in Kabul on Tuesday urged Afghan refugees to return home voluntarily, as Pakistan resumed deportations following a March 31 deadline issued last month for undocumented migrants and Afghan Citizen Card (ACC) holders to leave the country.
Pakistan’s decision has coincided with the Eid Al-Fitr celebrations, casting a shadow over the religious holiday for thousands of Afghan families. The move is part of a broader repatriation drive launched in 2023, which has so far seen more than 800,000 Afghans expelled.
Pakistani authorities maintain Afghan nationals have been involved in militant attacks and organized crime, accusations Kabul denies.
The crackdown began amid a surge in violence by armed groups like the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) and the Baloch Liberation Army (BLA), whose leaders Islamabad claims are based in Afghanistan, a charge rejected by the Taliban administration.
“The Islamic Emirate has reiterated its call for the voluntary return of Afghan migrants as the celebration of Eid Al-Fitr already began,” Afghanistan’s state-run Bakhtar news agency reported on Tuesday. “This appeal comes in light of increasing deportations of Afghan refugees from neighboring countries, mainly Iran and Pakistan.”
“Mawlavi Abdul Kabir, the country’s Minister of Refugees and Repatriation, has urged neighboring countries to halt these deportations and allow Afghans to return home voluntarily,” it added. “He emphasized the importance of humane treatment for refugees, especially in light of reports of mistreatment of Afghans by border nations, including instances where individuals holding legal visas were also deported.”
The agency said Pakistan’s “renewed crackdown” had left even documented Afghan refugees uncertain about their future.
Last week, Afghan refugee leaders in Karachi held a press conference appealing to Pakistani authorities to reconsider the timing of the deportations.
“Pakistan has generously hosted us for nearly 47 years, and a large portion of these refugees were born in Pakistan,” said Hajji Abdullah Shah Bukhari, chairman of the refugee community in Sindh. “Even if the government decides to expel us, it should not be done during Eid.”
He rejected claims that Afghan refugees were involved in militancy, saying, “We ourselves are victims of war and terrorism.”
International rights groups have also urged Islamabad to halt the deportations, warning that some returning Afghans could face threats under Taliban rule.
Pakistan insists it is carrying out the deportation campaign in a humane manner, saying it respects the dignity of all Afghan nationals.
However, officials maintain that the country has hosted Afghan refugees for decades and it is now time for them to return.
Afghanistan urges voluntary return of refugees as Pakistan resumes deportations
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Afghanistan urges voluntary return of refugees as Pakistan resumes deportations
- Last month, Pakistan set a March 31 deadline for Afghan Citizen Card holders to return to their country on their own
- Afghan officials in Kabul seek humane treatment for refugees, saying even people with valid documents felt uncertainty
Nine Pakistani firms showcase auto components at Automechanika Dubai 2025
- Pakistan to present automotive parts, engineering goods, hybrid-tech capabilities to global buyers
- Expo expected to draw 50,000 visitors and 2,400 exhibitors from over 60 countries, Consulate says
ISLAMABAD: Nine Pakistani companies are exhibiting automotive parts and engineering products at Automechanika Dubai 2025, one of the world’s largest auto-sector trade events, the Pakistani Consulate in Dubai said on Tuesday.
The three-day expo, being held from Dec. 9–11 at the Dubai World Trade Center, is expected to draw more than 50,000 buyers and 2,400 exhibitors from 60 countries, showcasing parts, components, lubricants, batteries, radiators, electronics, diagnostics tools, lighting, accessories, paint and body systems, as well as electric and hybrid vehicle technology.
Pakistan’s automotive and engineering sector contributes to manufacturing, employment and exports, with companies increasingly targeting Middle East and African markets for sourcing and aftermarket supply.
“Nine Pakistani companies facilitated by the Trade Development Authority of Pakistan (TDAP) are exhibiting their products to highlight Pakistan’s strengths in automotive parts, engineering goods and related industries,” the Consulate said.
Pakistan’s Consul General in Dubai Hussain Muhammad inaugurated the country pavilion and said participation at Automechanika reflects Islamabad’s intent to position its manufacturers in global supply chains and expand access to high-value export markets. Trade and Investment Counselor Ali Zeb Khan also reaffirmed support for exporters seeking new business linkages.
In November, Pakistan also exhibited at Big 5 Global 2025, showcasing construction materials and technologies at what is considered the world’s largest construction industry gathering.
