No further extensions, says PM Shehbaz

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif ruled out on Friday any further extension for Afghan refugees “illegally” residing in Pakistan, directing provincial governments and relevant authorities to ensure their “swift and dignified” repatriation.

Chairing a high-level meeting on the matter, Shehbaz said Pakistan has “borne the burden long enough” and that “those without valid visas will have to return home”.

The meeting was attended by Chief of Army Staff (COAS) Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir, federal ministers, and Sindh, Balochistan and Punjab chief ministers as well as representatives from Gilgit-Baltistan and Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK). Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P) was represented by Muzzammil Aslam after K-P CM Sohail Afridi excused himself.

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“The brave people of Pakistan, who sacrificed their loved ones in the war against terror, now ask how long will we continue to bear this burden?” said Shehbaz.

Expressing concern over increasing terror incidents linked to Afghan nationals, the premier noted that Pakistan had hosted millions of Afghans for decades despite its own challenges. “It is alarming that attacks on Pakistan are being launched from Afghan soil and that Afghans are found involved in such incidents.”

The meeting was briefed that the phased repatriation process had begun, and 1.47 million Afghan nationals have been sent back as of October 16. The forum decided that no further grace period would be granted to undocumented Afghans.

The premier directed federal and provincial institutions to “work in close coordination” to complete the process without delay. “Only those Afghans holding valid visas will be allowed to stay in Pakistan.”

He instructed the relevant authorities to ensure elderly people, women, children, and minorities are treated with dignity during the repatriation process. “We will not allow any mistreatment — but the law will take its course.”

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Shehbaz said that Pakistan’s leadership — including the deputy prime minister, foreign minister, and defense minister — had repeatedly engaged with the Afghan caretaker government in Kabul to ensure that the Afghan territory is not used for terrorism, but rising public frustration has made the issue urgent.

The meeting was also briefed on the expansion of exit points along the Afghan border to facilitate smoother and faster repatriation. It was emphasized that harbouring illegal Afghan residents or allowing them to stay in guest houses constituted a legal offense.

The prime minister praised the armed forces for responding “with full force” to recent cross-border attacks from Afghanistan.

“Under the leadership of Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir, the Pakistan Army repelled these attacks and proved, as it always has, that our forces know how to defend the motherland,” he said.

Participants, including provincial and regional leaders, commended Pakistan’s “diplomatic success” and lauded the prime minister and army chief’s role in coordinating national efforts on the issue.

The meeting concluded with a unanimous decision to strictly implement all recommendations regarding the repatriation of illegal Afghan nationals.

Heated borders

Meanwhile, the Foreign Office has declared that the current Afghan Taliban regime is not representative of the Afghan people. “No formal government currently exists in Kabul, and a group is holding power by force,” said the FO spokesperson.

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Tensions escalated on the night of October 11–12, when Afghan Taliban forces, supported by “Indian-sponsored elements of Fitna al-Khawarij,” launched an unprovoked attack on Pakistan along the border, according to the military’s media wing.

“The cowardly action, which included fire and a few physical raids, was aimed at destabilizing the border areas to facilitate terrorism, furthering FAK’s nefarious designs,” said Inter-Services Public Relations in a statement.

The security forces, exercising the right of self-defence, repelled the assaults decisively along the border and inflicted heavy casualties on Taliban forces and affiliated Khawarij terrorists, said ISPR.

On October 15, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced that Pakistan and the Afghan Taliban regime have agreed to a 48-hour ceasefire after Pakistan’s ‘precision strikes’ on Taliban and terrorist hideouts in Kandahar and Kabul.

According to the ministry, the decision was made at the Taliban’s request and with the mutual consent of both sides. During the ceasefire, both parties will hold constructive dialogue to make sincere efforts to find a positive solution to a complex but solvable issue, the ministry had said.

“This temporary pause aims at creating space for meaningful discussions and promote stability along the border,” the ministry said in a statement.