Khyber Pakhtunkhuwa – The Government of Pakistan has issued a formal notification to immediately shut down several long-standing Afghan refugee camps across Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, citing national security concerns. According to the federal directive, ten camps have been officially de-notified, with their land and assets to be handed over to the provincial government for lawful and developmental use.
Official sources and local media reports indicate that the affected districts include Dera Ismail Khan, Tank, Lakki Marwat, Bannu, Mansehra, Charsadda, and Malakand. Afghan refugees residing in these areas have been directed either to return home voluntarily or comply with relocation procedures defined by the authorities.
The notification stated that the land will be reclaimed by the government and repurposed for public and infrastructure projects, aiming to eliminate illegal occupation and ensure productive use of the sites.
Security Context Behind the Decision
The move follows renewed national security concerns, a day after Defence Minister Khawaja Asif revealed that the Afghan interim government had “acknowledged the presence of some terrorist elements” within its territory and admitted that members of banned outfits had once been their “associates.”
as a necessary step for national safety, while human rights activists have urged the government to ensure protection and resettlement arrangements for displaced families to prevent humanitarian fallout.
Meanwhile, political developments continue in Peshawar, where a decision on the swearing-in of the newly elected Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister remains pending. Officials stated that both federal and provincial authorities aim to synchronize administrative, security, and political measures to maintain order in the province.
Reaffirming the state’s position, the government reiterated that protecting Pakistan’s borders and citizens remains the highest priority. “All actions taken will be within the framework of national interest and the law,” the official statement concluded.
