Since 2006, Pakistan has been registering Afghan citizens living within its borders, providing them with official identification. However, the process for renewing Proof of Registration cards has not been clarified yet. Pakistan has assured the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) that a decision on the Management and Repatriation Strategy for Afghan Refugees from 2010 to 2012 will be finalized soon. Until then, registered Afghan refugees will be protected from harassment. This assurance has alleviated concerns among the registered Afghan population in Pakistan. The management of Afghan stay in Pakistan and their voluntary return is governed by a Tripartite Agreement between Pakistan, Afghanistan, and UNHCR, with the parties agreeing to extend the stay of registered Afghans in Pakistan beyond December 31st. However, continued violence, limited economic opportunities, and political insecurity in Afghanistan have hindered many refugees from returning. Approximately 1.7 million registered Afghans currently reside in camps and urban centers in Pakistan, with over 3.5 million having returned to Afghanistan since 2002 under UNHCR’s facilitated voluntary return program.
