Pakistan Orders Closure of Multiple Afghan Refugee Camps in KP Over Security Concerns

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.

This comes after the official notification (No. F. 4(7)-RR/2025) issued by the Ministry of Kashmir Affairs, Gilgit-Baltistan, and States & Frontier Regions (SAFRON), under the repatriation and deportation order S.R.O (1/2025) dated July 31, 2025. The de-notification takes effect immediately, formally ending decades-long legal status for several refugee settlements established during previous Afghan conflicts.

The list includes major camps in Peshawar, Nowshera, Hangu, Kohat, Mardan, Swabi, Buner, and Dir districts. Among the key de-notified camps are Kababian, Badaber, Khazana, Naguman, Khurasan, Mera Kachori, Shamshatoo, Hajizai, Akora Khattak, Lakhhi Banda, Kata Kani, Kahi, Thall, Gamkol, Jalala, Baghicha, Barakai, Gandaf, Koga, Chakdara, Timer, and Toor. Several of these, including Mera Kachori and Shamshatoo, had associated cluster camps such as Zandai, Baghbanan, Molvi Khalis, Jarma, Shen Dhand, Kagan, Fazal, and Mayar.

The notification further states that all lands within these de-notified areas will now be handed over to the Government of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa through the respective Deputy Commissioners and Provincial Commissioners for Afghan Refugees (CAR), with proper written handover procedures. Non-movable assets within these areas will also be transferred to the provincial government after formal documentation.

Official sources and local media reports indicate that the Afghan refugees residing in these areas have been directed either to return home voluntarily or comply with relocation procedures defined by the authorities.

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.”

In an interview with ARY News, the minister warned, “Those who have stained their hands with the blood of Pakistanis will not be spared. It will now be tit-for-tat.” He added that hiding places of militants can now be detected with modern intelligence and communication systems.

Asif emphasized that Pakistan will no longer remain silent while its civilians and security personnel are targeted, saying that any future aggression will be met with a strong and proportionate response. “The state has all the information it needs,” he said, “and those behind future attacks will face a severe response.”

Land Reclamation and Development Plans

The federal statement clarified that the camp de-notification aims not only to address security risks but also to enable better land management, launch local development initiatives, and curb illegal encroachments. Provincial authorities have been instructed to immediately survey the land, propose public-use projects, and implement a humane repatriation or relocation plan for residents.

Officials said the reclaimed land will be allocated for public and infrastructure projects under provincial development plans. The Ministry of SAFRON has directed that all handovers be properly recorded, with the provincial government responsible for future use, planning, and maintenance. Local reactions have been mixed. Security experts have welcomed the move

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.

The notification marks a major milestone in Pakistan’s ongoing repatriation policy, part of a broader national effort to phase out illegal settlements and formalize land use.

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.