ISLAMABAD; Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Friday chaired a high-level meeting in Islamabad to review the repatriation process of Afghan refugees and the overall security situation amid recent border tensions.
The meeting was attended by Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir, Chief of Army Staff; federal ministers; the Prime Minister of Azad Jammu and Kashmir; the chief ministers of Punjab, Sindh, Balochistan, and Gilgit-Baltistan; a representative of the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa chief minister; and senior federal and provincial officials.
Welcoming the participants, the prime minister shared that he had spoken with the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa chief minister the previous day, congratulating him and assuring full federal support for the province’s development and welfare.
Shehbaz Sharif noted that Pakistan has supported Afghanistan for decades during times of crisis, despite bearing a heavy price during the war on terror, including thousands of lives lost and billions of dollars in economic damage.
He expressed serious concern over the use of Afghan soil for terrorist activities in Pakistan and the involvement of Afghan nationals in recent attacks. He said that Pakistan had engaged the Afghan interim government multiple times through diplomatic and political channels to prevent cross-border infiltration by terrorists.
Referring to recent border aggression, the prime minister said Afghanistan’s support for militants attempting to infiltrate Pakistan was alarming. He praised the armed forces for their robust response, stating that “under the leadership of Field Marshal Asim Munir, the armed forces repelled Afghan attacks, earning the nation’s gratitude.”
The meeting was briefed on the progress of Afghan refugees’ repatriation. Authorities informed that as of October 16, 2025, a total of 1,477,592 Afghan nationals had been repatriated in phases. No further extensions would be granted, and only individuals holding valid Pakistani visas would be allowed to stay.
The number of exit points at the border is being increased to facilitate a smoother and faster return process. Officials also emphasized that sheltering illegal Afghan residents or hosting them in guesthouses is a punishable offence.
The prime minister instructed authorities to involve the public in the repatriation effort and ensure that elderly people, women, children, and minorities are treated with dignity during the process.
Participants from all provinces and AJK praised Pakistan’s diplomatic efforts and acknowledged the central role of PM Shehbaz Sharif and Field Marshal Asim Munir in addressing the issue.
The forum decided to strictly implement all recommendations presented during the meeting. The prime minister requested full provincial cooperation to complete the repatriation process effectively.
