Pakistan Orders Afghan Refugees to Relocate by March 31 Amidst Rising Tensions

The Pakistani government has instructed Afghan refugees in the capital, Islamabad, to move elsewhere in the country by March 31. This decision affects thousands seeking refuge and aligns with the recent suspension of U.S. refugee admissions, raising fears among the vulnerable population.

Tens of thousands of Afghan refugees currently residing in Pakistan's capital, Islamabad, have been given an ultimatum by the government to relocate by March 31. This order comes in response to the recent suspension of refugee admissions to the United States announced by President Trump, which has left many Afghans desperate for resettlement in limbo.

Many of these refugees have flocked to Islamabad and Rawalpindi due to their proximity to embassies and refugee agencies. Pakistan's government aims to exert pressure on Western countries, including the U.S., to expedite the resettlement process. Those who fail to find alternative refuge risk deportation back to Taliban-controlled Afghanistan, raising concerns about their safety and potential persecution.

The announcement has caused increasing fear and uncertainty among the Afghan refugee community, particularly for the 15,000 who had applied for resettlement in the U.S. Following Trump's executive order, which halts refugee admissions, advocates have voiced their discontent, arguing that the U.S. is abandoning those who assisted with Western-led efforts in Afghanistan.

Humanitarian organizations, including the U.N. refugee agency (UNHCR) and the International Organization for Migration, have highlighted the dire circumstances facing refugees at risk of deportation. They have urged Pakistan to ensure that any relocation complies with human rights standards, particularly regarding ethnic and religious minorities, women and girls, journalists, activists, and artists—groups that could face persecution from the Taliban government.