Pakistan Interior Ministry Orders Arrest of Undocumented Afghan Nationals from July 10

Pakistan's Interior Ministry has issued a directive to immediately arrest any Afghan national found residing in the country without a valid visa, effective July 10, 2026. The order targets undocumented Afghan residents as part of the ongoing Illegal Foreigners’ Repatriation Plan (IFRP).

The ministry's notification, addressed to the chief secretaries of all provinces, Gilgit-Baltistan, Azad Jammu and Kashmir, and the chief commissioner of Islamabad Capital Territory, emphasizes the decisions made during a review meeting on June 1, 2026. During that meeting, all provincial and administrative bodies were directed to accelerate the repatriation and deportation of Afghan nationals, including those with expired visas, and to strictly enforce the IFRP.

Authorities are required to issue necessary instructions to deputy commissioners, district administrations, police, and other relevant law enforcement agencies to ensure the uniform and effective implementation of these directives. A daily report detailing the number of Afghan nationals found without valid visas, the actions taken against them, and their current status must be submitted to the ministry starting July 11, 2026.

The ministry stressed that the matter should be given top priority and compliance ensured in both letter and spirit. This intensified enforcement action signals a stricter approach to managing the presence of foreign nationals within Pakistan.