Starting from November 1, 2023, all Afghan citizens will need a valid passport and visa to enter Pakistan. This is a change from the current system, which allows people from certain tribes to travel between the two countries without a passport or visa.
The Pakistani government says the new policy is necessary to improve security and reduce illegal immigration. However, some people are worried that it will make it harder for Afghan refugees to seek safety in Pakistan.
The new policy will also have a significant impact on divided tribes residing in the southern Afghan province of Kandahar and surrounding border areas. Thousands of tribespeople rely on the Chaman border crossing to visit family members in Pakistan or seek employment.
Amnesty International has called on Pakistani authorities to cease harassment and arbitrary arrests of Afghans seeking refuge in the country. The rights organization has pointed out that many Afghans, fearing persecution by the Taliban, sought refuge in Pakistan but have since faced arbitrary detentions, arrests, and the threat of deportation. Amnesty has called for greater international attention to the plight of Afghan refugees in Pakistan.
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