There would be no extension in the deadline for Afghan refugees to leave Pakistan, security sources said on Saturday, a day after the interior ministry ordered illegal foreign residents and Afghan Citizen Card (ACC) holders to leave the country by March 31.

The ACC is an identification document issued by the National Database & Registration Authority to registered Afghan nationals, granting them temporary legal status during their stay in Pakistan, as reported by the UN’s International Organization for Migration. The federal government determines how long the ACC remains valid.

In November 2023, Pakistan initiated a crackdown on undocumented foreigners, resulting in the repatriation of over 815,000 individuals. Following this, one of the first actions taken by US President Donald Trump upon returning to office was to suspend the resettlement program for Afghans who had assisted US forces prior to the withdrawal in 2021 or had been involved in human rights efforts.

The decision comes four days after 16 terrorists were killed while five soldiers were martyred when security forces responded to a terrorist attack on the Bannu Cantonment in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s namesake district on Tuesday.

Terrorists had rammed two explosives-laden vehicles into the perimeter of the Bannu Cantonment in an attempt to enter the high-security zone on Tuesday evening.

Deportation processes for all foreigners would commence from April 1, an interior ministry spokesperson said.

It was noted that the programme for the return of illegally residing foreigners has been in effect since November 1, 2023. All illegal foreigners and ACC holders have been instructed to voluntarily leave the country by the deadline.

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The interior ministry has assured that “no mistreatment” would occur during the repatriation process. Arrangements have been made for food and healthcare for the returning foreigners.

The ministry added that Pakistan “continues to fulfill its commitments and responsibilities as a responsible state,” asserting that individuals residing in the country must adhere to all legal requirements and constitutional obligations.

On the other hand, security sources have confirmed that there would be no further extensions to the deportation deadline. The decision to repatriate foreign nationals was a response to the alleged involvement of Afghan citizens in the increasing incidents of terrorism in Pakistan, they added.