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Pakistan Prepares for Return of 19,000 Afghan Citizens Amid US Resettlement Delays
Over 19,000 Afghan citizens in Pakistan await US resettlement, but delays persist. Pakistan’s Interior Ministry plans to inform provinces and begin return procedures.
ND
by News Desk
2026-02-09
Pakistan Prepares for Return of 19,000 Afghan Citizens Amid US Resettlement Delays

Pakistan is moving forward on the return of Afghan citizens who have been awaiting transfer to the United States for resettlement.

According to sources, more than 19,000 Afghan nationals currently residing in Pakistan are still waiting to be resettled in the US. Several years have passed since the Taliban government took control of Afghanistan, but the full resettlement of these individuals by the United States has not yet been possible.

In response to the ongoing delays, the Ministry of Interior has decided to initiate the process of returning Afghan citizens to their home country. Formal notifications are expected to be sent to all provincial chief secretaries, police chiefs, and administrations of Azad Jammu and Kashmir, Gilgit-Baltistan, and Islamabad to coordinate the returns.

The move comes amid growing pressure on Pakistan to manage the large population of Afghan nationals within its borders, highlighting the complexity of international resettlement processes and Pakistan’s role in addressing the humanitarian situation.

Officials say that the repatriation process will be carried out in coordination with provincial authorities to ensure it is smooth, organized, and in accordance with applicable laws.
Tagged:

InteriorMinistry

AfghanCitizens

Repatriation

USResettlement
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