As the government-imposed deadline for Afghan migrants to leave the country has expired, Pakistani authorities have launched a new phase of arrests and forced deportations across multiple regions, a move that migrants say is broader and more stringent than previous operations.

According to several Afghan migrants, Pakistani security forces are now detaining not only undocumented individuals but also holders of the Afghan Citizen Card (ACC) and those whose visas have expired, in preparation for their deportation.

Pakistani officials say the arrest and deportation campaign is ongoing in the provinces of Punjab, Sindh, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Balochistan, Gilgit-Baltistan, and Pakistan-administered Kashmir, with security forces tasked with implementing the policy.

The Pakistani government has stated that only foreign nationals holding valid visas will be permitted to remain in the country. Under the new policy, other migrants and asylum seekers—including ACC cardholders and some individuals possessing documentation issued by the United Nations—will also be subject to deportation procedures.