FO: Future of Refugees ‘Up to Pakistan,’ Says Spokesperson

Islamabad | September 5, 2025 — Foreign Office (FO) Spokesperson Ambassador Shafqat Ali Khan on Friday reaffirmed that Pakistan alone will decide the future of refugees it is currently hosting, including Afghan nationals.

• Pakistan’s stance: “Pakistani law will apply to those Afghans living here. We will decide what to do with refugees in Pakistan,” Khan said during the weekly press briefing in Islamabad.
• On Afghans waiting to travel to Germany: He urged Berlin to swiftly take in the 2,400 Afghan refugees it had promised asylum to, adding, “Those Afghans waiting to travel to Germany should be deported as soon as possible.”
• Germany’s commitment: Referring to earlier statements from German officials, Khan said, “We are encouraged by their words, but we expect them to fulfill their promise and take in the Afghans they agreed to host.”

Background on Afghan Refugees

• In July, Pakistan’s interior ministry declared that Proof of Registration (PoR) cards had expired on June 30, rendering over a million Afghan refugees unlawful residents.
• Deportations began in August, with authorities citing the Foreigners Act, which empowers the state to arrest, hold, and deport undocumented foreigners.
• Pakistan is not a signatory to the 1951 Geneva Convention on refugees, making its domestic law the main legal framework governing migration.

Message to Kabul on Terrorism

• The FO spokesperson also stressed that Afghanistan must act against terrorist safe havens inside its territory.
• “Pakistan knows how to defend its territory and its people,” Khan said, confirming that a counterterrorism operation was recently conducted near the border.
• He warned Kabul against allowing its soil to be used for attacks inside Pakistan, reiterating Islamabad’s longstanding demand for decisive action.

Regional Context

• At the recent Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit, member states emphasized the need for Afghanistan to establish an inclusive government with representation from all ethnic and political groups.
• The joint declaration underlined that only such inclusivity could secure lasting peace and stability in the region.

Key Takeaway

Pakistan has made clear that decisions about refugees within its borders remain its sovereign prerogative. At the same time, Islamabad expects Germany to honor its commitments and Afghanistan to take responsibility for curbing terrorism.

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