By Shahana Naseer
The Federal Ministry of Interior has requested the records of Afghan students studying in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP).
According to the Pakistani media, the Ministry of Interior’s Security Cell has sent a letter to the Provincial Interior Secretary.
The letter states that the National Security Cell is updating the foreigners’ dashboard, seeking comprehensive data of Afghan students by March 27.
It is important to note that the government of Pakistan has decided to send back the illegal, foreign, and Afghan citizen cardholders who have 5 days left to evacuate.
The total number of Afghans who left Pakistan has exceeded 876000, while the return process continues.
To ensure the smooth process, the government of Pakistan issued an order to leave the country by March 31 and assured that no one would be ill-treated during the evacuation. The government of Pakistan has completed the arrangements for food and health facilities for the returnees.
However, officials warned that strict legal action will be taken against the concerned persons after the deadline.
Aaj Daily, a media outlet based in Peshawar, reported that 10 educational institutions and medical clinics of Afghan refugees have been closed in Peshawar, while dozens more Afghan educational institutions and Afghan doctors’ clinics will be closed by March 31. While three Afghan doctors have also closed their clinics, notices have been issued for Afghan educational institutions, clinics, business centers, etc., in different places of the city, and they will be closed in stages, while reports have been asked about the closure in other districts of the province as well.
Undocumented Afghans in Rawalpindi and Islamabad would have been able to stay longer if Islamabad had granted the extension requested by the Afghan Taliban-led interim administration in Kabul previously.
However, Pakistan rejected this request amid growing security concerns in the country.
Afghan nationals who possess the necessary travel documents to relocate outside of Pakistan are permitted to remain there until March 31. They must leave after this date as well.
Those holding a valid Pakistani visa are allowed to stay for the duration specified on their visa.
AUTHOR
Shahana Naseer has a Bachelor’s in International Relations from NUML Islamabad. She is currently working as a research assistant at CRSS. Her interests are human rights, peace, and Security.
