NOTES‌ 

‌FOR‌  ‌ACTIVISTS,‌  ‌ORGANISATIONS,‌‌

 
AND‌  ‌CONCERNED‌  ‌PERSONS‌  ‌WHO‌  ‌ARE‌‌  
TRYING‌  ‌TO‌  ‌SUPPORT‌  ‌NEWLY‌  ‌ARRIVING‌‌
 
AFGHANS‌‌IN‌‌PAKISTAN‌  ‌
 ‌
1‌

THIS‌‌   IS‌‌
  A ‌‌WORKING‌‌
  DOCUMENT‌‌   THAT‌‌   WILL‌‌
  BE‌‌
  AMENDED‌‌  AS‌‌
 SUGGESTIONS‌‌
 COME‌‌
 
IN.‌   ‌ ‌
*The‌‌most‌‌urgent‌‌and‌‌pressing‌‌issues‌‌are‌‌highlighted‌‌in‌‌yellow*‌  ‌
 ‌
Last‌‌update:‌‌07‌‌September‌‌2021‌  ‌
 ‌
 ‌
 ‌
AIM‌‌OF‌‌THIS‌‌DOCUMENT‌  ‌
As‌‌  new‌‌ numbers‌‌  of‌‌
 Afghans‌‌  enter‌‌  Pakistan‌‌ this‌‌
 document‌‌  has‌‌  been‌‌ made‌‌  to‌‌
 support‌‌ 
activists,‌  ‌organisers,‌  ‌educators,‌  ‌and‌  ‌other‌  ‌institutions‌  ‌who‌  ‌have‌  ‌plwant‌  ‌to‌  ‌engage‌‌  
constructively‌‌with‌‌new‌‌arrivals.‌‌As‌‌such,‌‌this‌‌document‌‌does‌‌the‌‌following:‌  ‌
   ‌ ‌
1. Provide‌‌general‌‌information‌‌on‌‌the‌‌borders‌‌[updated‌‌every‌‌two‌‌to‌‌three‌‌days]‌  ‌
2. Give‌  ‌background‌  ‌&‌  ‌break‌  ‌down‌  ‌the‌  ‌different‌  ‌legal‌  ‌categories‌  ‌of‌  ‌Afghans‌  ‌in‌‌ 
Pakistan.‌‌    ‌
3. Suggest‌  ‌pathways‌  ‌of‌  ‌support‌  ‌for‌  ‌new‌  ‌Afghans‌  ‌who‌  ‌have‌  ‌been‌  ‌entering‌  ‌the‌‌  
country‌‌post-Taliban‌‌takeover‌‌of‌‌August‌‌2021.‌  ‌
4. Suggest‌  ‌ways‌  ‌to‌  ‌encourage‌  ‌existing‌  ‌Afghan‌  ‌communities‌  ‌in‌  ‌Pakistan‌  ‌to‌‌  
continue‌‌to‌‌be‌‌supported‌‌and‌‌not‌‌be‌‌subject‌‌to‌‌deportations.‌  ‌
5. Provide‌  ‌links‌  ‌to‌  ‌relevant‌  ‌organisers,‌  ‌activists,‌  ‌and‌  ‌institutions‌  ‌that‌‌
  should‌‌
  be‌‌
 
able‌‌to‌‌help‌‌newly‌‌arriving‌‌Afghans‌‌in‌‌the‌‌country.‌  ‌
 ‌
 ‌
 ‌
WHO‌‌HAS‌‌MADE‌‌THIS‌‌DOCUMENT?‌  ‌
This‌  ‌document‌  ‌has‌  ‌been‌  ‌put‌  ‌together‌  ‌by‌  ‌a ‌ ‌collective‌  ‌of‌  ‌organisers,‌  ‌practitioners,‌‌  
academics,‌‌   and‌‌
  ordinary‌‌   people‌‌  who‌‌
  are‌‌
  engaged‌‌   in‌‌
  solidarity‌‌   efforts‌‌
  for‌‌
 Afghans‌‌  in‌‌
 
and‌‌outside‌‌of‌‌the‌‌country.‌‌If‌‌you‌‌would‌‌like‌‌to‌‌know‌‌more,‌‌you‌‌can‌‌email:‌‌    ‌
academicsforafghansolidarity@gmail.com‌‌    ‌
 ‌
 ‌
 ‌

1
S
‌ ensitive‌‌materials‌‌and‌‌individual‌‌contacts‌‌will‌‌not‌‌be‌‌shared‌‌on‌‌this‌‌document‌‌
 
without‌‌permission.‌  ‌

1‌  ‌
LATEST‌‌BORDER‌‌UPDATE‌‌[22‌‌September‌‌2021]‌  ‌
Crossing‌‌the‌‌borders‌‌from‌‌Afghanistan‌‌into‌‌Pakistan‌‌remains‌‌unpredictable.‌  ‌
 ‌
Torkham‌‌   is‌‌
  open‌‌   for‌‌
  the‌‌
  transport‌‌
  of‌‌
  business‌‌  goods.‌‌  Only‌‌
 persons‌‌  who‌‌  are‌‌ Afghan‌‌  
passport‌  ‌holders‌  ‌with‌  ‌valid‌  ‌Pakistani‌  ‌visas‌  ‌and‌  ‌Pakistani‌  ‌passport‌  ‌holders‌  ‌are‌‌  
allowed‌  ‌to‌  ‌pass‌  ‌through‌  ‌the‌  ‌border.‌  ‌However,‌  ‌the‌  ‌numbers‌‌   of‌‌
  people‌‌
  able‌‌  to‌‌
  cross‌‌ 
the‌‌border‌‌are‌‌low.‌‌Those‌‌without‌‌visas‌‌are‌‌being‌‌turned‌‌away.‌‌    ‌
 ‌
Spin‌  ‌Boldak‌  ‌/ ‌ ‌Chaman‌  ‌is‌  ‌formally‌  ‌allowing‌  ‌Afghan‌  ‌passport‌  ‌holders‌  ‌with‌  ‌valid‌‌  
Pakistani‌  ‌visas‌  ‌and‌  ‌Pakistani‌  ‌passport‌  ‌holders‌  ‌to‌  ‌pass‌  ‌through‌  ‌the‌  ‌border.‌  ‌Some‌‌  
Afghan‌  ‌nationals‌  ‌without‌  ‌passports‌  ‌and‌  ‌visas‌  ‌report‌  ‌having‌  ‌been‌  ‌able‌‌   to‌‌
  cross‌‌   the‌‌
 
border.‌  ‌However,‌‌   reports‌‌  of‌‌
  harassment‌‌   and‌‌
  deportation‌‌   of‌‌
  persons‌‌  once‌‌   they‌‌  have‌‌ 
come‌‌into‌‌Pakistan‌‌are‌‌being‌‌reported.‌  ‌
 ‌
  ‌ ‌
   ‌ ‌
 ‌

BACKGROUND‌  ‌& ‌ ‌LEGAL‌  ‌CATEGORIES‌  ‌OF‌  ‌

AFGHANS‌‌IN‌‌PAKISTAN‌  ‌
 ‌
Glossary‌‌and‌‌Acronyms‌  ‌
ACC‌ Afghan‌‌Citizen‌‌card‌  ‌
CCAR‌ Chief‌‌Commissionerate‌‌of‌‌Afghan‌‌Refugees‌  ‌
CNIC‌ Pakistani‌‌computerised‌‌national‌‌identity‌‌card‌  ‌
IOM‌ International‌‌Organisation‌‌of‌‌Migration‌  ‌
POR‌ Afghan‌‌Citizen‌‌Proof‌‌of‌‌Registration‌‌card‌  ‌
RSD‌ Refugee‌‌Status‌‌Determination‌  ‌
SAFRON‌ Ministry‌‌of‌‌States‌‌and‌‌Frontier‌‌Regions‌  ‌
Tazkira‌‌   Afghan‌‌national‌‌identity‌‌documents‌  ‌
UNHCR‌ United‌‌Nations‌‌High‌‌Commission‌‌for‌‌Refugees‌  ‌
There‌  ‌are‌  ‌already‌  ‌some‌  ‌three‌‌   million‌‌
  Afghans‌‌  living‌‌   in‌‌
  Pakistan.‌‌
  Most‌‌
 
have‌  ‌lived‌  ‌in‌  ‌the‌  ‌country‌  ‌since‌  ‌1979.‌  ‌Since‌  ‌the‌  ‌2000s-2010s‌  ‌their‌ 
position‌  ‌in‌  ‌the‌  ‌country‌  ‌has‌  ‌been‌  ‌vulnerable‌  ‌to‌  ‌police‌  ‌harassment,‌‌  
detention,‌‌and‌‌deportations.‌  ‌
  ‌ ‌
 ‌
Note‌‌  for‌‌  organisers‌:‌‌   ‌Please‌‌
  be‌‌
  wary‌‌  of‌‌
  how‌‌   you‌‌  ask‌‌  any‌‌  Afghans‌‌  about‌‌  their‌‌
 legal‌‌
 
status‌  ‌in‌  ‌Pakistan.‌  ‌Many‌  ‌who‌  ‌have‌  ‌been‌  ‌living‌  ‌in‌  ‌the‌  ‌country‌  ‌for‌  ‌years‌  ‌have‌‌  been‌‌
 
subject‌‌   to‌‌  significant‌‌
  harassment‌‌   by‌‌
  various‌‌   law‌‌  enforcement‌‌   agencies‌‌   and‌‌   in‌‌
 some‌‌ 
cases‌  ‌deportation.‌  ‌Please‌  ‌do‌  ‌not‌  ‌ask‌  ‌to‌  ‌see‌  ‌identity‌  ‌documents‌  ‌or‌  ‌take‌  ‌copies‌‌  
unless‌‌your‌‌help‌‌is‌‌requested‌‌by‌‌the‌‌persons‌‌in‌‌question.‌  ‌

2‌  ‌
QUICK‌‌POINTS‌  ‌
●‌  ‌ Pakistan‌  ‌is‌  ‌not‌  ‌a ‌ ‌signatory‌  ‌to‌  ‌the‌  ‌United‌  ‌Nations‌  ‌Convention‌  ‌Relating‌  ‌to‌‌ 
the‌  ‌Status‌  ‌of‌  ‌Refugees‌  ‌and‌  ‌the‌  ‌1967‌  ‌Protocol‌  ‌Relating‌  ‌to‌  ‌the‌  ‌Status‌  ‌of‌‌
 
Refugees.‌  ‌
●‌  ‌ Pakistan‌‌has‌‌no‌‌Refugee‌‌Law‌‌(Refugee‌‌Law‌‌bill‌‌keeps‌‌getting‌‌blocked.)‌  ‌
●‌  ‌ Registered‌‌   Afghan‌‌   refugees‌‌   (POR‌‌   card‌‌
  holders)‌‌   are‌‌
  managed‌‌  by‌‌
 a ‌‌series‌‌
 
of‌  ‌Tripartite‌  ‌Agreements‌  ‌between‌  ‌the‌  ‌government‌  ‌of‌  ‌Pakistan,‌‌  
Afghanistan,‌  ‌and‌‌   UNHCR.‌‌   This‌‌   does‌‌  not‌‌
  apply‌‌
  to‌‌
  Afghan‌‌   asylum‌‌
  seekers‌‌ 
(see‌‌below.)‌‌L ‌ INK‌. ‌ ‌
●‌  ‌ Most‌  ‌Afghans,‌  ‌including‌  ‌refugees,‌  ‌asylum‌  ‌seekers,‌  ‌and‌  ‌undocumented‌ 
migrants‌‌are‌‌managed‌‌by‌‌the‌‌1946‌‌Foreigners‌‌Act.‌‌L ‌ INK‌. ‌ ‌
 ‌

1.‌‌Afghan‌‌Pakistanis‌  ‌
Who?‌  ‌
Former‌‌Afghan‌‌nationals‌‌who‌‌now‌‌have‌‌Pakistani‌‌citizenship.‌  ‌
  ‌ ‌
How‌‌many?‌  ‌
Unknown.‌  ‌
  ‌ ‌
When‌‌did‌‌they‌‌move?‌  ‌
Most‌‌moved‌‌to‌‌Pakistan‌‌in‌‌between‌‌the‌‌1960s‌‌to‌‌early‌‌1990s.‌  ‌
  ‌ ‌
Legal‌‌status‌‌and‌‌documents?‌  ‌
Pakistani‌‌CNIC‌‌holders;‌‌Pakistani‌‌passports.‌  ‌
  ‌ ‌
Responsible‌‌government/‌‌nongovernmental‌‌institutions?‌  ‌
Government‌‌of‌‌Pakistan‌  ‌
  ‌ ‌
Risk‌‌to‌‌their‌‌position‌‌in‌‌Pakistan?‌  ‌
Low‌‌to‌‌medium.‌  ‌
  ‌ ‌
Additional‌‌notes‌‌/‌‌What‌‌should‌‌organisers‌‌keep‌‌in‌‌mind?‌  ‌
Starting‌  ‌from‌  ‌the‌  ‌2010s,‌  ‌some‌  ‌Afghan‌  ‌nationals‌  ‌who‌  ‌have‌  ‌CNIC‌  ‌cards‌  ‌have‌  ‌been‌‌
 
tracked‌‌  by‌‌
  NADRA‌‌   and‌‌
  had‌‌
  those‌‌
 cards—and‌‌  thereby‌‌  their‌‌
 legal‌‌ status‌‌
 as‌‌ Pakistani‌‌
 
citizens—revoked‌  ‌
  ‌ ‌
The‌  ‌Pakistani‌  ‌citizenship‌  ‌of‌  ‌these‌  ‌former‌  ‌Afghan‌  ‌nationals‌‌
  will‌‌
  have‌‌
  been‌‌   acquired‌‌
 
through‌‌one‌‌of‌‌two‌‌ways.‌  ‌
  ‌ ‌
Route‌‌1:‌‌Citizenship‌‌acquired‌‌through‌‌informal‌‌processes.‌  ‌
  ‌ ‌

3‌  ‌
Note‌  ‌for‌‌   organisers:‌‌   ‌within‌‌
  the‌‌   Pakistani‌‌   legal‌‌   system‌‌   these‌‌   persons‌‌   are‌‌
  Pakistani‌‌
 
citizens.‌  ‌Our‌  ‌role‌  ‌should‌  ‌not‌  ‌be‌  ‌to‌  ‌police‌  ‌their‌  ‌legal‌  ‌status.‌  ‌It‌  ‌is‌  ‌important‌  ‌to‌  ‌avoid‌‌
 
putting‌‌the‌‌limelight‌‌on‌‌them.‌  ‌
  ‌ ‌
Route‌  ‌2:‌  ‌Pakistani‌‌   Citizenship‌‌   Laws‌‌   allow‌‌
  Afghan‌‌   women—and‌‌   their‌‌  children—who‌ 
have‌  ‌married‌  ‌Pakistani‌  ‌male‌  ‌citizens‌  ‌to‌  ‌be‌  ‌naturalised‌  ‌as‌  ‌Pakistani‌  ‌citizens.‌  ‌The‌‌  
same‌‌does‌‌not‌‌apply‌‌to‌‌Afghan‌‌men‌‌who‌‌have‌‌married‌‌Pakistani‌‌women.‌  ‌
  ‌ ‌
Note‌  ‌for‌  ‌organisers:‌  ‌Pakistani‌  ‌women‌  ‌married‌‌   to‌‌
  Afghan‌‌  men‌‌   have‌‌   been‌‌   pushing‌‌
 
for‌  ‌their‌  ‌husbands‌  ‌and‌  ‌children's‌  ‌rights‌  ‌to‌  ‌be‌  ‌eligible‌  ‌for‌  ‌Pakistani‌  ‌citizenship.‌  ‌In‌ 
cases‌  ‌where‌  ‌Afghan‌  ‌men‌  ‌have‌  ‌been‌  ‌deported‌  ‌they‌  ‌have‌  ‌also‌  ‌been‌  ‌pushing‌  ‌for‌‌  
family‌‌   reunification.‌‌  This‌‌ should‌‌  be‌‌ an‌‌  area‌‌  that‌‌
 organisations‌‌  could‌‌  offer‌‌ longer-term‌‌  
support.‌  ‌
  ‌ ‌
 ‌

2.‌‌Afghan‌‌Registered‌‌Refugees‌‌(POR‌‌cardholders)‌‌[Post-1979‌‌refugees]‌  ‌
  ‌ ‌
Who?‌  ‌
Afghan‌  ‌nationals‌  ‌living‌  ‌in‌  ‌Pakistan‌  ‌with‌  ‌“temporary‌  ‌protection”‌  ‌as‌  ‌registered‌‌  
refugees.‌  ‌
  ‌ ‌
How‌‌many?‌  ‌
Over‌‌1.4‌‌million‌‌persons.‌  ‌
  ‌ ‌
When‌‌did‌‌they‌‌move?‌  ‌
Most‌  ‌moved‌  ‌to‌  ‌Pakistan‌  ‌in‌  ‌between‌  ‌the‌  ‌1970s‌  ‌to‌  ‌mid-2000s.‌‌   (Over‌‌
  90%‌‌  moved‌‌  in‌‌
 
the‌‌1980s.)‌  ‌
  ‌ ‌
Where‌‌do‌‌they‌‌live?‌  ‌
32%‌‌will‌‌live‌‌in‌‌one‌‌of‌‌Pakistan’s‌‌54‌‌refugee‌‌tented‌‌villages‌‌(refugee‌‌camps)‌  ‌
68%‌‌will‌‌live‌‌in‌‌rented‌‌accommodation.‌  ‌
  ‌ ‌
Legal‌‌status‌‌and‌‌documents?‌  ‌
Afghan‌  ‌Citizen‌  ‌Proof‌  ‌of‌  ‌Registration‌  ‌(POR)‌  ‌card‌  ‌issued‌  ‌by‌  ‌the‌  ‌Government‌  ‌of‌‌  
Pakistan‌  ‌as‌  ‌a ‌ ‌part‌  ‌of‌  ‌the‌  ‌Tripartite‌  ‌agreement‌  ‌with‌  ‌the‌  ‌United‌  ‌Nations‌  ‌High‌‌  
Commission‌‌for‌‌Refugees‌‌(UNHCR)‌‌and‌‌former‌‌Government‌‌of‌‌Afghanistan.‌  ‌
  ‌ ‌
This‌‌  status‌‌   makes‌‌   them‌‌
  considered‌‌  to‌‌
 be‌‌  “registered‌‌  refugees”‌‌  that‌‌
 have‌‌ “temporary‌‌  
protection”‌‌   in‌‌
  the‌‌
  country.‌‌   Their‌‌
  status‌‌
  is‌‌
  renewed‌‌   on‌‌
  an‌‌
  ad-hoc‌‌  basis,‌‌
 usually‌‌ every‌‌
 
one‌  ‌to‌  ‌three‌  ‌years.‌  ‌This‌  ‌status,‌‌
  however,‌‌   is‌‌
  dependent‌‌   on‌‌
  the‌‌
  relationship‌‌   between‌‌ 
Kabul‌  ‌and‌  ‌Islamabad–Islamabad‌  ‌has‌  ‌often‌  ‌delayed‌  ‌renewal‌  ‌for‌  ‌political‌  ‌“leverage”‌‌  
over‌‌Kabul.‌  ‌

4‌  ‌
  ‌ ‌
This‌  ‌legal‌  ‌status‌  ‌is‌  ‌rooted‌  ‌in‌  ‌the‌  ‌movements‌  ‌of‌  ‌Afghans‌  ‌during‌  ‌the‌  ‌Soviet-Afghan‌‌ 
war,‌  ‌1979,‌  ‌when‌  ‌the‌  ‌Government‌  ‌of‌  ‌Pakistan‌  ‌accorded‌  ‌all‌  ‌new‌  ‌arrivals‌  ‌with‌  ‌prima‌‌  
facie‌‌(on‌‌first‌‌encounter)‌‌refugee‌‌status.‌  ‌
  ‌ ‌
Shifting‌  ‌politics‌  ‌in‌  ‌the‌  ‌War‌  ‌on‌  ‌Terror‌  ‌means‌  ‌Afghan‌  ‌nationals‌  ‌that‌  ‌moved‌  ‌to‌  ‌the‌‌
 
country‌  ‌after‌  ‌2001‌  ‌(implemented‌  ‌only‌  ‌in‌  ‌2004-2005)‌  ‌were‌  ‌considered‌  ‌no‌  ‌longer‌‌  
eligible‌‌to‌‌be‌‌“registered‌‌refugees.”‌  ‌
  ‌ ‌
Benefits‌‌of‌‌legal‌‌status‌  ‌
Can‌‌open‌‌bank‌‌accounts*‌  ‌
Can‌‌get‌‌access‌‌to‌‌health‌‌care‌‌and‌‌education*‌  ‌
Can‌‌get‌‌jobs.‌  ‌
  ‌ ‌
*‌‌This‌‌is,‌‌however,‌‌also‌‌known‌‌to‌‌have‌‌broken‌‌down‌‌a‌‌number‌‌of‌‌times.‌  ‌
**‌‌Purchasing‌‌SIM‌‌cards‌‌with‌‌a‌‌POR‌‌card‌‌remains‌‌difficult.‌  ‌
  ‌ ‌
Responsible‌‌government/‌‌nongovernmental‌‌institutions?‌  ‌
● Ministry‌‌of‌‌States‌‌and‌‌Frontier‌‌Regions‌  ‌
● Chief‌‌Commissionerate‌‌of‌‌Afghan‌‌Refugees‌  ‌
● United‌‌Nations‌‌High‌‌Commission‌‌for‌‌Refugees‌‌in‌‌Pakistan‌  ‌
● The‌‌Interior‌‌Ministry‌‌attempts‌‌to‌‌influence/‌‌make‌‌decisions‌‌on‌‌their‌‌status.‌  ‌
  ‌ ‌
Policy,‌  ‌Agreements,‌  ‌and‌  ‌Laws‌  ‌that‌  ‌are‌  ‌used‌  ‌to‌  ‌govern‌  ‌and‌  ‌manage‌  ‌these‌‌  
Afghans‌  ‌
● Afghan‌‌Management‌‌and‌‌Repatriation‌‌Strategy‌‌by‌‌SAFRON‌‌and‌‌CCAR.‌  ‌
● Solutions‌  ‌Strategy,‌  ‌2018.‌  ‌UNHCR‌  ‌and‌  ‌the‌  ‌governments‌  ‌of‌  ‌Pakistan‌  ‌and‌‌  
Afghanistan.‌L ‌ INK‌. ‌ ‌
● 1946‌‌Foreigners‌‌Act.‌L ‌ INK‌. ‌ ‌
 ‌
Risk‌‌to‌‌their‌‌position‌‌in‌‌Pakistan‌? ‌ ‌
Medium‌‌to‌‌high.‌  ‌
  ‌ ‌
Additional‌‌notes‌‌/‌‌What‌‌should‌‌organisers‌‌keep‌‌in‌‌mind?‌  ‌
Throughout‌  ‌the‌  ‌2010s,‌  ‌Pakistan‌  ‌has‌  ‌pursued‌  ‌an‌  ‌aggressive‌  ‌policy‌  ‌of‌  ‌coercive‌‌  
repatriation‌  ‌of‌  ‌Afghans‌  ‌from‌  ‌Pakistan.‌  ‌Afghan‌  ‌nationals,‌  ‌especially‌  ‌low-income‌‌  
Afghans,‌  ‌have‌  ‌been‌  ‌subject‌  ‌to‌  ‌routine‌  ‌police‌  ‌harassment,‌  ‌mass‌  ‌arrests,‌‌
  detention,‌‌
 
and‌‌even‌‌deportation.‌‌    ‌
  ‌ ‌
The‌‌POR‌‌card‌‌has‌‌been‌‌used‌‌to‌‌facilitate‌‌voluntary‌‌and‌‌forced‌‌returns.‌  ‌
  ‌ ‌
Human‌‌  Rights‌‌ Watch‌‌  has‌‌  condemned‌‌  both‌‌ the‌‌ Government‌‌  of‌‌
 Pakistan‌‌  and‌‌ UNHCR‌‌  
for‌‌enabling‌‌forced‌‌returns.‌L ‌ INK‌. ‌ ‌
  ‌ ‌

5‌  ‌
Organisers‌‌   should‌‌  note‌‌
  that‌‌
  as‌‌
  new‌‌
  Afghans‌‌   enter‌‌   the‌‌
  country,‌‌   we‌‌
  should‌‌   also‌‌
 be‌‌
 
looking‌  ‌to‌  ‌ensure‌  ‌existing‌  ‌Afghans‌  ‌in‌  ‌Pakistan‌  ‌do‌  ‌not‌  ‌face‌  ‌pressure‌  ‌to‌  ‌leave‌  ‌the‌‌
 
country.‌  ‌
  ‌ ‌

 ‌

3.‌‌Irregular/‌‌Undocumented‌‌Afghans‌  ‌
Who?‌  ‌
Afghan‌‌nationals‌‌living‌‌in‌‌Pakistan‌‌with‌‌no‌‌legal‌‌status.‌  ‌
  ‌ ‌
How‌‌many?‌  ‌
Estimates‌‌vary‌‌from‌‌1.5‌‌million‌‌to‌‌2.5‌‌million‌‌persons.‌  ‌
  ‌ ‌
When‌‌did‌‌they‌‌move?‌  ‌
Most‌  ‌moved‌  ‌to‌  ‌Pakistan‌  ‌from‌  ‌the‌  ‌1990s‌  ‌onward‌  ‌and‌  ‌2000s.‌  ‌Some‌  ‌will‌  ‌have‌  ‌lived‌‌  
across‌‌borders,‌‌including‌‌through‌‌returns‌‌to‌‌Afghanistan.‌  ‌
  ‌ ‌
(After‌‌   2001,‌‌   but‌‌
  only‌‌
  fully‌‌
  enforced‌‌
  in‌‌
  2004-2005,‌‌   any‌‌
  Afghan‌‌   crossing‌‌  into‌‌
 Pakistan‌‌ 
was‌‌considered‌‌to‌‌be‌‌an‌‌“illegal”‌‌presence.)‌  ‌
  ‌ ‌
Where‌‌do‌‌they‌‌live?‌  ‌
Rented‌‌accommodation,‌‌especially‌‌informal‌‌housing‌‌areas.‌  ‌
  ‌ ‌
Legal‌‌status‌‌and‌‌documents?‌  ‌
Starting‌‌   in‌‌
  2017,‌‌   the‌‌
  Government‌‌   of‌‌
  Pakistan‌‌  through‌‌   SAFRON‌‌   and‌‌  CCAR,‌‌   worked‌‌
 
with‌  ‌the‌  ‌International‌‌   Organisation‌‌  of‌‌
  Migration‌‌  (IOM)‌‌  to‌‌
  register‌‌   “irregular”‌‌   Afghans‌‌
 
with‌  ‌an‌  ‌Afghan‌  ‌Citizen‌  ‌Card‌  ‌(ACC).‌  ‌The‌  ‌aim‌  ‌of‌  ‌this‌  ‌card‌  ‌has‌  ‌been‌  ‌to‌  ‌speed‌  ‌up‌‌
 
“returns”‌‌as‌‌managed‌‌by‌‌the‌‌IOM.‌  ‌
  ‌ ‌
Laws‌‌that‌‌are‌‌used‌‌to‌‌govern‌‌and‌‌manage‌‌these‌‌Afghans‌  ‌
1946‌‌Foreigners‌‌Act‌  ‌
 ‌
Responsible‌‌government/‌‌nongovernmental‌‌institutions?‌  ‌
● Chief‌‌Commissionerate‌‌of‌‌Afghan‌‌Refugees‌  ‌
● IOM‌  ‌
● The‌‌Interior‌‌Ministry‌‌attempts‌‌to‌‌influence/‌‌make‌‌decisions‌‌on‌‌their‌‌status.‌  ‌
 ‌
Risk‌‌to‌‌their‌‌position‌‌in‌‌Pakistan‌? ‌ ‌
High.‌  ‌
  ‌ ‌
Additional‌‌notes‌‌/‌‌What‌‌should‌‌organisers‌‌keep‌‌in‌‌mind?‌  ‌

6‌  ‌
Undocumented‌  ‌Afghans‌  ‌are‌  ‌especially‌  ‌vulnerable‌  ‌to‌  ‌routine‌  ‌police‌  ‌harassment,‌‌  
mass‌‌arrests,‌‌detention,‌‌and‌‌routine‌‌deportation.‌   ‌ ‌
 ‌
Note‌  ‌for‌  ‌organisers:‌  ‌Extra‌  ‌care‌  ‌should‌  ‌be‌  ‌taken‌  ‌to‌  ‌reach‌  ‌out‌  ‌to‌  ‌these‌  ‌groups‌  ‌as‌‌
 
they‌‌
  are‌‌
  often‌‌
 the‌‌
 most‌‌  vulnerable‌‌  and‌‌
 usually‌‌  from‌‌
 low-income‌‌  households.‌‌  Women‌‌  
and‌ ‌minorities‌‌within‌‌this‌‌category‌‌are‌‌especially‌‌vulnerable.‌   ‌

 ‌

 ‌

4.‌‌Afghans‌‌with‌‌work‌‌permits‌‌and‌‌visas‌  ‌
Who?‌  ‌
Afghan‌‌   nationals‌‌  visiting‌‌
  Pakistan‌‌  for‌‌  medical‌‌  reasons;‌‌   Afghan‌‌   nationals‌‌
  studying‌‌  in‌‌
 
Pakistan;‌‌Afghan‌‌nationals‌‌working‌‌in‌‌Pakistan‌‌(including‌‌daily‌‌wage‌‌labourers).‌  ‌
  ‌ ‌
How‌‌many?‌  ‌
Unknown.‌  ‌
  ‌ ‌
When‌‌did‌‌they‌‌move?‌  ‌
During‌‌the‌‌2010s/‌‌2020.‌  ‌
  ‌ ‌
Where‌‌do‌‌they‌‌live?‌  ‌
Urban‌‌areas;‌‌rented‌‌accommodation.‌  ‌
  ‌ ‌
Legal‌‌status‌‌and‌‌documents?‌  ‌
Visas‌‌and‌‌work‌‌permits‌‌issued‌‌by‌‌Pakistani‌‌consulates‌‌in‌‌Afghanistan.‌  ‌
  ‌ ‌
Responsible‌‌government/‌‌nongovernmental‌‌institutions?‌  ‌
● Pakistan‌‌embassy,‌‌Kabul.‌  ‌
● Interior‌‌Ministry.‌  ‌
  ‌ ‌
Risk‌‌to‌‌their‌‌position‌‌in‌‌Pakistan?‌  ‌
Medium‌. ‌ ‌
  ‌ ‌
Additional‌‌notes/‌‌What‌‌should‌‌organisers‌‌keep‌‌in‌‌mind?‌  ‌
Private‌  ‌educational‌  ‌institutions‌  ‌should‌  ‌push‌  ‌to‌  ‌ensure‌‌   Afghan‌‌   nationals‌‌
  with‌‌
  places‌‌ 
at‌‌their‌‌institutions‌‌have‌‌their‌‌visas‌‌processed.‌  ‌
 ‌
Note‌  ‌for‌  ‌organisers‌: ‌ ‌Check‌  ‌with‌  ‌private‌  ‌institutions‌  ‌if‌  ‌they‌  ‌have‌  ‌Afghan‌  ‌students‌‌  
and‌  ‌request‌  ‌they‌  ‌provide‌  ‌letters‌  ‌of‌  ‌support‌  ‌if‌  ‌needed‌  ‌to‌  ‌ensure‌  ‌they‌  ‌can‌  ‌enter‌‌
 
Pakistan‌‌and/or‌‌stay,‌‌i.e.‌‌via‌‌visa‌‌renewal.‌  ‌
  ‌ ‌

7‌  ‌
Examples‌‌of‌‌private‌‌institutions‌‌with‌‌sizeable‌‌Afghan‌‌presence‌‌(please‌‌add‌‌more):‌  ‌
● Islamic‌‌University,‌‌Islamabad.‌  ‌
  ‌ ‌

 ‌

5.‌‌Post-2005‌‌Afghan‌‌Asylum‌‌Seekers‌  ‌
Who?‌  ‌
Any‌‌   Afghan‌‌  nationals‌‌
  who‌‌  arrived‌‌  into‌‌
  Pakistan‌‌   after‌‌
 2001‌‌ and‌‌
 who‌‌
 have‌‌
 applied‌‌
 for‌‌
 
asylum‌  ‌with‌  ‌the‌  ‌UNHCR.‌  ‌They‌  ‌undergo‌  ‌a ‌ ‌Refugee‌  ‌Status‌  ‌Determination‌  ‌(RSD)‌‌  
process‌‌   with‌‌
  the‌‌
  UNHCR.‌‌   Some‌‌   will‌‌
  apply‌‌
  for‌‌
  third‌‌
  country‌‌ resettlement.‌‌
 Note‌‌ these‌‌
 
Afghans‌  ‌are‌  ‌not‌  ‌considered‌  ‌the‌  ‌same‌  ‌as‌  ‌“registered‌  ‌refugees,”‌  ‌who‌  ‌are‌  ‌mainly‌‌
 
managed‌‌as‌‌post-1979‌‌refugees.‌‌    ‌
  ‌ ‌
Afghans‌‌  visiting‌‌
 Pakistan‌‌
 for‌‌ medical‌‌  reasons;‌‌  Afghan‌‌  nationals‌‌
 studying‌‌
 in‌‌
 Pakistan;‌‌
 
Afghan‌‌nationals‌‌working‌‌in‌‌Pakistan‌‌(including‌‌daily‌‌wage‌‌labourers‌  ‌
  ‌ ‌
How‌‌many?‌  ‌
2,000‌‌to‌‌3,000.‌  ‌
  ‌ ‌
When‌‌did‌‌they‌‌move?‌  ‌
During‌‌the‌‌2010s/‌‌2020.‌  ‌
  ‌ ‌
Where‌‌do‌‌they‌‌live?‌  ‌
Urban‌‌areas;‌‌rented‌‌accommodation.‌  ‌
  ‌ ‌
Legal‌‌status‌‌and‌‌documents?‌  ‌
Asylum‌‌seekers;‌‌RSD‌‌documents‌‌issued‌‌by‌‌UNHCR.‌  ‌
  ‌ ‌
Responsible‌‌government/‌‌nongovernmental‌‌institutions?‌  ‌
UNHCR.‌  ‌
  ‌ ‌
Risk‌‌to‌‌their‌‌position‌‌in‌‌Pakistan?‌  ‌
Variable.‌  ‌
  ‌ ‌
Additional‌‌notes/‌‌What‌‌should‌‌organisers‌‌keep‌‌in‌‌mind?‌  ‌
N/A.‌  ‌
  ‌ ‌
  ‌ ‌

8‌  ‌
 ‌

6.‌  ‌*URGENT‌  ‌CASES*‌  ‌Post-August‌  ‌2021‌  ‌Afghans‌‌

 
entering‌‌Pakistan‌  ‌
  ‌ ‌
Who‌  ‌
● Afghans‌‌that‌‌are‌‌already‌‌POR‌‌card‌‌holders‌‌and‌‌returning‌‌to‌‌Pakistan.‌  ‌
● Afghans‌‌that‌‌have‌‌immediate‌‌family‌‌with‌‌POR‌‌cards‌‌are‌‌returning‌‌to‌‌Pakistan.‌  ‌
● Afghan‌‌students‌‌with‌‌educational‌‌positions‌‌in‌‌a‌‌Pakistani‌‌private‌‌institution.‌  ‌
● Afghans‌  ‌who‌  ‌have‌  ‌lived‌  ‌as‌  ‌irregular‌  ‌migrants‌  ‌in‌  ‌Pakistan‌  ‌and‌‌
  are‌‌
  returning,‌‌ 
still,‌‌without‌‌a‌‌legal‌‌status.‌  ‌
● Afghans‌  ‌who‌  ‌have‌  ‌not‌  ‌lived‌  ‌in‌‌
  Pakistan‌‌  before‌‌   and,‌‌
  therefore,‌‌
  have‌‌  no‌‌
  legal‌‌
 
status‌‌in‌‌the‌‌country.‌‌This‌‌latter‌‌group‌‌is‌‌especially‌‌vulnerable‌‌and‌‌will‌‌include:‌  ‌
○ Women;‌  ‌activists;‌  ‌ethnic‌  ‌minorities,‌  ‌such‌  ‌as‌  ‌Hazaras,‌  ‌Shias,‌  ‌and‌‌  
others.‌  ‌
 ‌
 ‌
How‌‌many‌? ‌ ‌
Unknown.‌  ‌
  ‌ ‌
When‌‌did‌‌they‌‌move?‌  ‌
July,‌‌August,‌‌September‌‌2021‌  ‌
  ‌ ‌
Where‌‌do‌‌they‌‌live?‌  ‌
Couch‌‌surfing;‌‌hotels;‌‌family.‌  ‌
  ‌ ‌
Legal‌‌status‌‌and‌‌documents?‌  ‌
Pending.‌  ‌
  ‌ ‌
Responsible‌‌government/‌‌nongovernmental‌‌institutions?‌  ‌
Pending.‌  ‌
  ‌ ‌
Risk‌‌to‌‌their‌‌position‌‌in‌‌Pakistan?‌  ‌
High.‌‌In‌‌need‌‌of‌‌immediate‌‌support.‌  ‌
 ‌
 ‌

9‌  ‌
IMMEDIATE‌  ‌ACTION‌  ‌POINTS‌  ‌FOR‌  ‌ALL‌‌
 
ORGANISERS‌  ‌
(1)‌‌Family‌‌reunification‌‌of‌‌POR‌‌cardholders/‌‌families‌‌with‌‌POR‌‌cards.‌  ‌
For‌‌   Afghans‌‌
  already‌‌   connected‌‌
  to‌‌
  Pakistan‌‌
  through‌‌   being‌‌   POR‌‌   cardholders‌‌  and/‌‌
  or‌‌
 
having‌  ‌family‌  ‌members‌  ‌who‌  ‌are‌  ‌POR‌  ‌card‌  ‌holders,‌  ‌social‌  ‌networks‌  ‌will,‌  ‌largely,‌‌ 
alleviate‌  ‌any‌  ‌major‌  ‌issues.‌  ‌However,‌  ‌some‌  ‌people‌  ‌are‌  ‌stuck‌  ‌in‌‌
  Kabul‌‌
  and‌‌
  trying‌‌
  to‌‌
 
reunify‌‌with‌‌their‌‌families.‌  ‌
  ‌ ‌
Action‌  ‌point:‌  ‌Pressure‌  ‌government‌  ‌of‌  ‌Pakistan‌  ‌and‌  ‌UNHCR‌  ‌to‌  ‌allow‌  ‌family‌‌  
reunification‌‌of‌‌Afghans‌‌with‌‌POR‌‌card‌‌holders‌‌already‌‌in‌‌Pakistan‌. ‌ ‌
  ‌ ‌

(2)‌  ‌Support‌‌
 Afghans‌‌
 who‌‌ are‌‌
 newly‌‌
 arriving‌‌
 into‌‌
 Pakistan‌‌
 --‌‌
 they‌‌
 are‌‌
 in‌‌
 need‌‌
 of‌‌
 
the‌‌most‌‌urgent‌‌help.‌  ‌
  ‌ ‌
Here‌‌are‌‌ways‌‌to‌‌help:‌  ‌
1. Support‌  ‌Afghans‌  ‌once‌  ‌they‌‌   have‌‌   entered‌‌   via‌‌
  border‌‌
  crossing‌‌   points‌‌   in‌‌
  either‌‌
 
Chaman‌  ‌or‌  ‌Torkham‌  ‌to‌  ‌get‌  ‌into‌  ‌city‌  ‌centres‌  ‌and/‌  ‌or‌  ‌other‌  ‌cities‌  ‌in‌‌
  Pakistan,‌‌  
i.e.‌‌to‌‌help‌‌arrange‌‌transport.‌‌    ‌
2. Accommodation.‌  ‌[They‌  ‌cannot‌  ‌easily‌  ‌rent‌  ‌without‌  ‌ID‌  ‌and‌  ‌need‌  ‌Pakistani‌‌  
guarantors]‌  ‌
3. Food‌‌and‌‌water.‌  ‌
4. Blankets‌‌and‌‌bedding.‌  ‌
5. SIM‌‌cards‌‌[They‌‌cannot‌‌be‌‌purchased‌‌without‌‌ID]‌  ‌
6. Cash‌‌[People‌‌may‌‌need‌‌help‌‌with‌‌bank‌‌transfers.]‌  ‌
7. Support‌‌   to‌‌
  call/‌‌
 visit‌‌ UNHCR‌‌  offices‌‌ and‌‌ their‌‌
 implementing‌‌  partners‌‌  and‌‌  have‌‌
 
asylum‌‌claims‌‌processed.‌  ‌
 ‌
KEY‌  ‌TIP:‌  ‌Call‌  ‌the‌  ‌UNHCR‌  ‌offices‌  ‌(and‌  ‌their‌  ‌implementing‌  ‌partners)‌  ‌for‌  ‌asylum‌‌  
support‌  ‌and/‌  ‌or‌  ‌visit‌  ‌the‌  ‌offices‌  ‌in‌  ‌person.‌  ‌Speak‌  ‌to‌  ‌people‌  ‌already‌  ‌processing‌‌  
peoples‌‌claims‌‌on‌‌the‌‌ground.‌  ‌
 ‌
Action‌‌points:‌  ‌
1. In‌  ‌each‌  ‌major‌  ‌city,‌  ‌find‌  ‌affordable‌  ‌temporary‌  ‌options‌  ‌for‌  ‌rent.‌  ‌Set‌  ‌up‌  ‌task‌‌
 
forces/‌‌networks‌‌that‌‌can‌‌help‌‌find‌‌these‌‌places.‌  ‌
2. Find‌  ‌out‌  ‌the‌  ‌easiest‌  ‌and‌  ‌safest‌  ‌way‌  ‌for‌  ‌people‌  ‌to‌  ‌travel‌  ‌from‌  ‌Chaman‌  ‌or‌‌
 
Torkham‌  ‌into‌  ‌major‌  ‌cities,‌  ‌i.e.‌  ‌car,‌  ‌coach.‌  ‌Do‌  ‌you‌  ‌have‌  ‌volunteers‌  ‌who‌  ‌can‌‌
 
help‌‌people‌‌get‌‌in‌‌these‌‌modes‌‌of‌‌transport?‌  ‌
3. In‌  ‌each‌  ‌major‌  ‌city,‌  ‌pressurise‌  ‌UNHCR‌  ‌and‌  ‌its‌  ‌implementing‌  ‌partners‌  ‌for‌‌  
temporary‌‌refugee‌‌accommodation.‌  ‌

10‌  ‌
 4. In‌  ‌each‌  ‌major‌  ‌city,‌  ‌identify‌  ‌sponsors‌  ‌or‌  ‌organisations‌  ‌that‌  ‌can‌  ‌offer‌‌  
accommodation.‌  ‌
5. In‌  ‌each‌  ‌major‌  ‌city,‌  ‌identify‌  ‌organisers‌  ‌who‌  ‌can‌  ‌offer‌  ‌Pashto‌  ‌and‌  ‌Dari‌‌  
translators,‌‌where‌‌possible.‌  ‌
6. Set‌  ‌up‌  ‌an‌  ‌Afghan‌  ‌emergency‌  ‌relief‌  ‌fund‌  ‌for‌  ‌organisers‌  ‌who‌  ‌are‌  ‌working‌  ‌to‌‌
 
provide‌‌food,‌‌bedding,‌‌and‌‌SIM‌‌cards,‌‌and‌‌cash‌‌to‌‌Afghans.‌  ‌
  ‌ ‌

(3)‌ ‌Afghans‌‌on/‌‌applying‌‌for‌‌evacuation‌‌lists‌‌to‌‌Europe‌‌or‌‌North‌‌America‌  ‌
  ‌ ‌
Afghan‌  ‌nationals‌  ‌who‌  ‌have‌  ‌already‌  ‌managed‌  ‌to‌  ‌get‌  ‌on‌  ‌an‌  ‌evacuation‌  ‌list‌  ‌of‌  ‌a ‌‌
European‌  ‌or‌  ‌North‌  ‌American‌  ‌country‌  ‌have‌  ‌been‌  ‌guaranteed‌  ‌flights‌  ‌by‌  ‌these‌‌  
governments‌‌if‌‌they‌‌get‌‌to‌‌Pakistan.‌  ‌
 ‌
In‌‌  other‌‌
  cases,‌‌   some‌‌   countries,‌‌   such‌‌  as‌‌  Germany‌‌   and‌‌ France,‌‌  say‌‌  they‌‌  will‌‌
 process‌‌  
visa/‌‌asylum‌‌claims‌‌on‌‌arrival‌‌in‌‌Islamabad.‌  ‌
  ‌ ‌
For‌  ‌those‌  ‌on‌  ‌evacuation‌  ‌lists,‌‌   if‌‌
  people‌‌   do‌‌  get‌‌
  across‌‌   the‌‌  border,‌‌   they‌‌   must‌‌  directly‌‌ 
contact‌‌   the‌‌
  relevant‌‌   embassy‌‌   in‌‌  Islamabad‌‌   or‌‌
  consulate‌‌   in‌‌
  Karachi‌‌   to‌‌
  find‌‌
 out‌‌ about‌‌  
their‌  ‌flights‌  ‌and‌  ‌evacuation‌  ‌plan.‌  ‌In‌  ‌some‌  ‌cases‌  ‌they‌  ‌will‌  ‌need‌  ‌support‌  ‌for‌‌  
accommodation‌‌   and‌‌
  guidance‌‌   on‌‌   how‌‌
  to‌‌
  travel‌‌   from‌‌  Chaman‌‌   or‌‌
  Torkham‌‌  into‌‌ major‌‌  
cities,‌‌i.e.‌‌car,‌‌coach,‌‌etc.‌  ‌
 ‌
For‌  ‌those‌  ‌planning‌  ‌on‌  ‌applying‌  ‌for‌  ‌asylum,‌  ‌support‌  ‌will‌  ‌be‌  ‌needed‌  ‌to‌  ‌contact‌  ‌the‌‌  
relevant‌  ‌embassy‌  ‌and‌  ‌in‌  ‌some‌  ‌cases‌  ‌UNHCR‌  ‌and‌  ‌its‌  ‌implementing‌  ‌partners.‌‌  
Support‌‌for‌‌accommodation‌‌will‌‌also‌‌be‌‌needed.‌  ‌
  ‌ ‌
Please‌  ‌note,‌  ‌the‌  ‌land‌  ‌border‌  ‌crossing‌  ‌is‌  ‌very‌  ‌difficult‌  ‌at‌  ‌the‌  ‌moment.‌‌   Chaman‌‌   and‌‌ 
Torkham‌  ‌are‌  ‌reporting‌  ‌difficult‌  ‌passages‌  ‌for‌  ‌most‌  ‌people.‌  ‌(See‌  ‌Notes‌  ‌on‌  ‌Border‌‌  
Crossings.)‌  ‌
  ‌ ‌
Action‌‌points:‌  ‌
1. Call‌  ‌European‌  ‌/ ‌ ‌North‌  ‌American‌  ‌embassies‌  ‌to‌  ‌check‌  ‌what‌  ‌accommodation,‌‌  
food,‌  ‌and‌  ‌cash‌  ‌assistance‌  ‌they‌  ‌are‌  ‌offering‌  ‌Afghans‌  ‌who‌  ‌have‌  ‌managed‌  ‌to‌‌  
get‌‌into‌‌Pakistan.‌  ‌
2. Find‌  ‌out‌  ‌the‌  ‌easiest‌  ‌and‌  ‌safest‌  ‌way‌  ‌for‌  ‌people‌  ‌to‌  ‌travel‌  ‌from‌  ‌Chaman‌  ‌or‌  ‌
Torkham‌  ‌into‌  ‌major‌  ‌cities,‌  ‌i.e.‌  ‌car,‌  ‌coach,‌  ‌etc.‌  ‌Support‌  ‌people‌  ‌as‌  ‌they‌  ‌try‌‌   to‌‌
 
get‌‌to‌‌other‌‌cities‌‌in‌‌Pakistan.‌  ‌
3. Pressure‌‌Pakistan‌‌to‌‌allow‌‌safe‌‌passage‌‌through‌‌the‌‌border.‌  ‌
  ‌ ‌
 ‌
Additional‌‌resources‌‌and‌‌guidance‌  ‌

11‌  ‌
*EVACUATIONS,‌‌VISAS*‌  ‌
[Information‌‌Taken‌‌from‌‌another‌‌coordination‌‌list.]‌  ‌
● Operation‌‌Afghan‌‌Airlift.‌A ‌ ‌‌group‌‌of‌‌ex-NATO‌‌pilots‌‌are‌‌organising‌‌airlifts‌‌out‌‌of‌‌
 
Kabul‌‌to‌‌Dubai‌‌and‌‌other‌‌places.‌‌To‌‌get‌‌in‌‌touch‌‌for‌‌emergency‌‌evacuation,‌‌write‌‌to‌‌  
one‌‌of‌‌the‌‌following‌‌emails:‌s‌ hireen@operationafghanairlift.org‌, ‌‌
josh@operationafghanairlift.org‌,‌j‌ohn@operationafghanairlift.org‌, ‌‌
brendan@operationafghanairlift.org‌‌    ‌
● Leaving‌‌Afghanistan‌‌Document.‌I‌nformation‌‌on‌‌evacuation‌‌routes‌‌and‌‌visa‌‌  
resettlement‌: ‌‌
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1RJQ9CozGALE-pKdDPvlEGQqgljFlpGYWQV‌
X3b83Cryo/edit‌  ‌
● Exitsos.com.‌C ‌ onsolidating‌‌and‌‌updating‌‌details‌‌of‌‌the‌‌different‌‌country‌‌visa‌‌  
schemes‌‌for‌‌Afghan‌‌nationals.‌  ‌
● Visa‌‌for‌‌Afghans.‌‌h ‌ ttps://visasforafghans.net/‌.‌‌This‌‌site‌‌will‌‌guide‌‌an‌‌applicant‌‌to‌‌the‌‌ 
right‌‌type‌‌of‌‌application‌‌to‌‌make‌‌for‌‌each‌‌country‌‌based‌‌on‌‌answers‌‌to‌‌an‌‌initial‌‌set‌‌of‌‌  
questions."‌  ‌
● Info‌‌on‌‌UK‌‌visa.‌‌  
https://www.gov.uk/guidance/support-for-british-and-non-british-nationals-in-afghanist‌
an‌‌
   ‌
● Info‌‌on‌‌US‌‌SIV.‌‌  
https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/us-visas/immigrate/special-immg-visa-afghan‌
s-employed-us-gov.html‌‌    ‌
 ‌

 ‌

(4)‌‌Afghans‌‌still‌‌in‌‌Afghanistan‌‌and‌‌trying‌‌to‌‌get‌‌to‌‌Pakistan‌  ‌
  ‌ ‌
There‌‌   are‌‌   a ‌‌number‌‌  of‌‌
 Afghans‌‌  who‌‌ are‌‌  stuck‌‌  in‌‌
 Afghanistan‌‌  and‌‌  would‌‌ like‌‌
 to‌‌ get‌‌
 to‌‌
 
Pakistan.‌  ‌Some‌  ‌will‌  ‌do‌  ‌so‌  ‌with‌  ‌the‌‌   intention‌‌   of‌‌
  claiming‌‌  asylum‌‌   in‌‌
  Pakistan.‌‌  Others‌‌ 
are‌‌trying‌‌to‌‌apply‌‌for‌‌a‌‌visa‌‌for‌‌a‌‌third‌‌country.‌  ‌
  ‌ ‌
Pakistan’s‌  ‌Kabul‌  ‌embassy‌  ‌is‌  ‌supposedly‌  ‌open‌  ‌for‌  ‌visa‌  ‌applications‌  ‌for‌  ‌journalists,‌‌  
students,‌  ‌and‌  ‌diplomats.‌  ‌However,‌  ‌conflicting‌  ‌reports‌  ‌on‌  ‌the‌  ‌ground‌  ‌suggest‌  ‌the‌‌  
embassy‌‌is‌‌shut.‌  ‌
 ‌
In‌‌  order‌‌  to‌‌
  support‌‌  contacts,‌‌   activists,‌‌   and‌‌
  vulnerable‌‌   people‌‌ in‌‌
 Afghanistan‌‌  you‌‌  can‌‌
 
do‌‌the‌‌following:‌  ‌
1. Top‌‌up‌‌their‌‌mobile‌‌via‌‌Ding.‌‌LINK‌  ‌
2. Transfer‌‌   money,‌‌   if‌‌
  they‌‌
  need‌‌  it‌‌
  via‌‌
  Western‌‌   Union/‌‌ Moneygram‌‌  [please‌‌  check‌‌ 
if‌‌they‌‌are‌‌functioning.]‌  ‌
3. Contact‌‌the‌‌embassy‌‌in‌‌Kabul‌‌to‌‌see‌‌if‌‌they‌‌are‌‌open‌‌and/‌‌or‌‌issuing‌‌visas.‌  ‌
4. Encourage‌‌  educational‌‌  institutions‌‌  to‌‌
 offer‌‌ scholarships‌‌  to‌‌
 Afghan‌‌  researchers‌‌  
and‌‌students.‌‌    ‌
 ‌

12‌  ‌
 ‌

BORDER‌‌CROSSINGS:‌‌MORE‌‌DETAILS‌‌
   ‌
The‌‌information‌‌and‌‌details‌‌about‌‌being‌‌able‌‌to‌‌cross‌‌into‌‌Pakistan‌‌by‌‌land‌‌are‌‌  
changing‌‌fast‌‌on‌‌the‌‌ground,‌‌unpredictable,‌‌and‌‌will‌‌vary‌‌from‌‌person‌‌to‌‌person‌‌  
along‌‌the‌‌lines‌‌of‌‌class,‌‌gender,‌‌ethnicity,‌‌and‌‌documentation‌‌type.‌‌We‌‌will‌‌try‌‌to‌‌  
keep‌‌information‌‌updated‌‌here‌‌every‌‌2‌‌to‌‌3‌‌days.‌  ‌
 ‌
There‌‌are‌‌two‌‌border‌‌crossings:‌  ‌
1) Torkham,‌‌in‌‌the‌‌north,‌‌which‌‌leads‌‌from‌‌Nangarhar‌‌(Afghanistan)‌‌into‌‌Khyber‌‌  
Pakhtunkhwa‌‌(Pakistan).‌‌The‌‌closest‌‌major‌‌city‌‌is‌‌Peshawar.‌   ‌ ‌
 ‌
Torkham‌‌opening‌‌times:‌‌Monday-‌‌Saturday.‌  ‌
 ‌
2) Chaman/Spin‌‌Boldak,‌‌which‌‌leads‌‌from‌‌Qandahar‌‌(Afghanistan)‌‌into‌‌  
Balochistan.‌‌The‌‌closest‌‌major‌‌city‌‌is‌‌Quetta.‌‌Travel‌‌to‌‌Karachi‌‌is‌‌also‌‌  
possible.‌‌    ‌
Chaman‌‌opening‌‌times:‌‌09:00‌‌-‌‌16:00‌‌daily.‌  ‌
 ‌
Torkham‌‌and‌‌Chaman‌‌have‌‌remained‌‌open‌‌for‌‌the‌‌most‌‌part.‌  ‌
 ‌
Torkham‌‌has,‌‌for‌‌a‌‌while,‌‌had‌‌stricter‌‌regulations‌‌because‌‌of‌‌the‌‌Covid-19‌‌pandemic.‌‌    ‌
 ‌
Most‌‌people‌‌are‌‌trying‌‌to‌‌get‌‌in‌‌via‌‌Chaman/‌‌Spin‌‌Boldak.Reports‌‌from‌‌people‌‌on‌‌  
the‌‌ground‌‌at‌‌Chaman‌‌have‌‌said‌‌conditions‌‌can‌‌be‌‌rushed,‌‌packed,‌‌and‌‌often‌‌  
require‌‌paying‌‌the‌‌border‌‌officials‌‌extra‌‌money‌‌to‌‌be‌‌able‌‌to‌‌pass‌‌through.‌‌Some‌‌  
people‌‌who‌‌have‌‌no‌‌documents‌‌(no‌‌visas,‌‌evacuation‌‌proof/‌‌number,‌‌ID,‌‌POR‌‌cards)‌‌  
have‌‌said‌‌they‌‌have‌‌been‌‌turned‌‌away‌‌at‌‌the‌‌border.‌‌    ‌
 ‌
If‌‌anyone‌‌is‌‌trying‌‌to‌‌cross‌‌the‌‌border‌‌the‌‌suggestions‌‌are‌‌as‌‌follows:‌  ‌
 ‌
1. Come‌‌with‌‌whatever‌‌documents‌‌and‌‌information‌‌you‌‌have.‌‌This‌‌includes‌‌  
some‌‌of‌‌the‌‌following:‌  ‌
● Passport;‌‌    ‌
● Passport‌‌with‌‌visa‌‌for‌‌Pakistan‌‌(issued‌‌by‌‌Pakistan‌‌embassy,‌‌  
Kabul);‌  ‌
● Tazkira;‌  ‌
● POR‌‌card‌‌(existing‌‌or‌‌previous);‌  ‌
● Educational‌‌letters‌‌of‌‌acceptance‌‌(for‌‌university‌‌students);‌  ‌
● Medical‌‌letters‌‌if‌‌you‌‌are‌‌trying‌‌to‌‌get‌‌to‌‌a‌‌hospital;‌  ‌
● Sponsorship‌‌letter.‌  ‌
● Address‌‌of‌‌where‌‌you‌‌will‌‌be‌‌staying;‌  ‌

13‌  ‌
 ● If‌‌you‌‌have‌‌been‌‌issued‌‌an‌‌evacuation‌‌form‌‌for‌‌a‌‌European‌‌or‌‌
 
North‌‌American‌‌country‌‌the‌‌details‌‌for‌‌this‌‌(email,‌‌numbers,‌‌
 
contacts).‌  ‌
 ‌
As‌‌we‌‌are‌‌learning‌‌from‌‌experience,‌‌there‌‌is‌‌no‌‌set‌‌rule‌‌as‌‌to‌‌what‌‌will‌‌allow‌‌  
you‌‌into‌‌Pakistan‌‌or‌‌not.‌‌So‌‌people‌‌with‌‌visas‌‌are‌‌more‌‌likely‌‌to‌‌get‌‌in,‌‌but‌‌
 
there‌‌are‌‌known‌‌cases‌‌where‌‌those‌‌without‌‌visas‌‌are‌‌also‌‌able‌‌to‌‌enter‌‌the‌‌  
country.‌‌
   ‌
 ‌
 ‌
2. Try‌‌not‌‌to‌‌be‌‌intimidated‌‌by‌‌the‌‌border‌‌police.‌  ‌
○ The‌‌border‌‌police‌‌do‌‌not‌‌have‌‌the‌‌best‌‌reputation;‌‌some‌‌are‌‌known‌‌to‌‌  
ask‌‌for‌‌bribes.‌‌Those‌‌crossing‌‌the‌‌border‌‌should‌‌be‌‌prepared‌‌for‌‌this.‌  ‌
○ If‌‌you‌‌can,‌‌please‌‌have‌‌ready‌‌the‌‌names‌‌of‌‌lawyers‌‌and‌‌legal‌‌support‌‌  
teams‌‌who‌‌may‌‌be‌‌able‌‌to‌‌help‌‌if‌‌you‌‌get‌‌stuck‌‌on‌‌the‌‌border.‌  ‌
 ‌
A‌‌note‌‌for‌‌organisers‌‌who‌‌are‌‌able‌‌to‌‌get‌‌to‌‌the‌‌crossing‌‌points‌:‌‌It‌‌may‌‌be‌‌worth‌‌  
having‌‌ready‌‌(on‌‌paper)‌‌the‌‌numbers‌‌and/‌‌or‌‌addresses‌‌of‌‌individuals‌‌and‌‌  
organisations‌‌whom‌‌people‌‌can‌‌connect‌‌to.‌‌Water,‌‌small‌‌cash‌‌for‌‌food,‌‌and‌‌the‌‌like,‌‌  
will‌‌also‌‌be‌‌helpful.‌‌In‌‌addition,‌‌links‌‌to‌‌transport‌‌to‌‌get‌‌out‌‌of‌‌the‌‌border‌‌area/‌‌to‌‌
 
another‌‌city‌‌will‌‌be‌‌essential‌‌(see‌‌below.)‌  ‌

 ‌

FINANCIAL‌‌ASSISTANCE‌‌FOR‌‌AFGHANS‌‌
   ‌
● For‌‌Afghans‌‌who‌‌have‌‌recently‌‌entered‌‌the‌‌country,‌‌some‌‌may‌‌be‌‌struggling‌‌  
without‌‌being‌‌able‌‌to‌‌access‌‌money‌‌and/‌‌or‌‌funds.‌  ‌
● Ways‌‌of‌‌supporting‌‌transfers‌‌from‌‌family‌‌members‌‌outside‌‌of‌‌Afghanistan‌‌  
need‌‌to‌‌be‌‌established.‌  ‌
● For‌‌organisers‌‌and‌‌activists‌‌engaged‌‌in‌‌support,‌‌financial‌‌funds‌‌should‌‌be‌‌
 
made‌‌available‌‌through‌‌crowdfunding‌‌and/‌‌or‌‌existing‌‌organisational‌‌funds.‌‌    ‌
 ‌
The‌‌organisers‌‌of‌‌this‌‌list‌‌are‌‌working‌‌to‌‌support‌‌local‌‌individual‌‌organisers‌‌for‌‌relief‌‌
 
efforts.‌‌If‌‌you‌‌are‌‌interested‌‌to‌‌contribute,‌‌please‌‌contact:‌‌
 
academicsforafghansolidarity@gmail.com‌‌    ‌

14‌  ‌
 ‌

KEY‌‌CONTACTS‌  ‌
 ‌

LEGAL‌‌AID‌‌&‌‌ASYLUM‌‌APPLICATIONS‌‌[UNHCR‌‌&‌‌PARTNERS]‌  ‌

UNHCR‌‌&‌‌PARTNERS‌  ‌
UNHCR‌‌   and‌‌  their‌‌
  implementing‌‌   partners‌‌
  are‌‌
  processing‌‌   new‌‌
  asylum‌‌  applications‌‌   in‌‌
 
Quetta,‌‌Islamabad,‌‌Peshawar,‌‌and‌‌Karachi.‌  ‌
  ‌ ‌
Please‌‌see‌‌here:‌‌h ‌ ttps://help.unhcr.org/pakistan/asylum/‌   ‌
  ‌ ‌
Sindh‌  ‌
Karachi:‌‌SHARP‌  ‌
Tel:‌ ‌+92‌‌334‌‌111‌‌2008‌‌or‌ ‌+92‌‌(021)‌‌34811571‌  ‌
Address:‌‌B-204/A,‌‌Block‌‌10‌‌Gulshan-e-Iqbal,‌‌Karachi,‌‌Karachi‌‌City,‌‌Sindh‌  ‌
Website:‌‌h ‌ ttps://sharp-pakistan.org/‌  ‌
Hotline‌‌runs‌‌24/7‌  ‌
Office‌‌timing‌‌8:30‌‌–‌‌16:30‌‌Monday-‌‌Thursday‌‌and‌‌Friday‌‌8:30-12:30‌  ‌
  ‌ ‌
Balochistan‌  ‌
Quetta,‌‌SEHER‌  ‌
Tel:‌‌+92‌‌333‌‌781‌‌9143‌  ‌
Address:‌‌B#4,‌‌Bukhari‌‌Street‌‌near‌‌Arbab‌ ‌CNG,‌‌Spini‌‌Road‌‌Quetta‌  ‌
Email:‌s‌ eher@seher.org.pk‌  ‌
Website:‌‌h ‌ ttps://seher.org.pk/‌  ‌
Protection‌‌Hotline‌‌operates‌‌–‌‌09‌‌am-‌‌10‌‌pm‌‌daily‌‌including‌‌weekends‌  ‌
Office‌‌hours:‌‌9am‌‌–‌‌5pm‌  ‌
  ‌ ‌
Khyber‌‌Pakhtunkhwa‌  ‌
Peshawar,‌‌UNHCR‌  ‌
Tel:‌‌+92‌‌300‌‌858‌‌5600‌  ‌
Protection‌‌   Helpline:‌‌   Monday‌‌  – ‌‌Thursday‌  ‌8:00‌‌   am‌‌
  – ‌‌04:30‌‌
  pm,‌‌
  Friday‌‌
  – ‌‌08:00‌‌
  am‌‌
 – ‌‌
01:00‌‌pm‌  ‌
Email:‌p ‌ akpeprt@unhcr.org‌‌‌or‌P ‌ AKPE@unhcr.org‌  ‌
Address:‌‌House‌‌No‌‌1,‌‌Gull‌‌Moher‌‌Lane‌  ‌
University‌‌Town‌‌Peshawar‌  ‌
UNHCR‌‌Office‌‌hours:‌‌Monday‌‌–‌‌Thursday‌‌08:30‌‌am‌‌–‌‌03:30‌‌pm‌‌    ‌
 ‌
Peshawar,‌‌SHARP‌  ‌

15‌  ‌
Tel:‌‌0300‌‌858‌‌0417‌  ‌
 ‌
Mardan,‌‌SHARP‌  ‌
Tel:‌‌+92‌‌315‌‌500‌‌9502‌  ‌
 ‌
Kohat,‌‌SHARP‌  ‌
Tel:‌‌0315‌‌500‌‌9503‌  ‌
 ‌
Haripur,‌‌SHARP‌  ‌
Tel:‌‌0315‌‌500‌‌9501‌  ‌
 ‌
Temargarah,‌‌SHARP‌  ‌
Tel:‌‌0345‌‌500‌‌9501‌  ‌
 ‌
  ‌ ‌
Islamabad,‌‌Capital‌‌Territory‌   ‌
Islamabad,‌‌UNHCR‌  ‌
Tel:‌‌+92‌‌300‌‌501‌‌8568‌  ‌
Email:‌‌pakisprt@unhcr.org‌  ‌
UNHCR‌‌Hotline‌‌operates‌‌Mon-Fri‌‌8am-8pm‌‌and‌‌Sat-Sun‌‌10am-5pm‌  ‌
  ‌ ‌
Islamabad,‌‌SHARP‌  ‌
Tel:‌‌+92‌‌334‌‌111‌‌2004‌‌    ‌
Address:‌‌26B,‌‌Street‌‌687,‌‌G‌‌13/3,‌‌Islamabad‌ 
Phone:‌‌+92‌‌(051)‌‌2300809-10‌  ‌
Website:‌‌https://sharp-pakistan.org/‌  ‌
SHARP‌‌Hotline‌‌runs‌‌24/7‌  ‌
Office‌‌Hours:‌‌9-4:30‌‌(Mon-Thurs)‌‌9-12:30‌‌(Fri)‌‌    ‌
  ‌ ‌
For‌  ‌Registration:‌  ‌SHARP‌  ‌WILL‌  ‌ONLY‌  ‌BE‌  ‌TAKING‌  ‌APPOINTMENTS‌  ‌FOR‌  ‌NEW‌‌  
APPLICANTS‌‌   OVER‌‌
  THE‌‌  PHONE.‌‌   NO‌‌  WALK-IN‌‌  CASES‌‌ WILL‌‌
 BE‌‌ ENTERTAINED.‌‌  
To‌  ‌make‌  ‌an‌  ‌appointment‌  ‌please‌  ‌call:‌  ‌051‌  ‌2300812‌  ‌between‌  ‌8-12pm‌  ‌and‌  ‌2-4pm‌‌
 
(Mon-Thurs)‌‌and‌‌9-12:30‌‌(Fri)‌  ‌
  ‌ ‌
Punjab‌‌    ‌
Lahore,‌‌SHARP‌  ‌
House‌‌#‌‌365,‌‌Pak‌‌Block,‌‌Allama‌‌Iqbal‌‌Town‌‌Lahore.‌  ‌
042-37800710-11‌  ‌
 ‌
Mianwali,‌‌SHARP‌  ‌
House‌‌#‌‌5-A,‌‌Rehman‌‌Street.‌‌Usama‌‌Garden,‌‌near‌‌Muslim‌‌Colony,‌‌Mianwali‌  ‌
Tel:‌‌0459-332637‌‌–‌‌232236‌  ‌
 ‌

16‌  ‌
International‌‌Organization‌‌for‌‌Migration‌‌(IOM),‌‌Islamabad,‌‌Capital‌‌Territory‌‌
   ‌
Punjab,‌‌Islamabad‌  ‌
Tel‌ ‌:‌‌+92-51.230.7841-57‌  ‌
Fax:‌‌+92-51.230.7858-59‌  ‌
Email:‌‌iomislamabad@iom.int‌  ‌
 ‌
IOM‌‌Migration‌‌Health‌‌Department‌‌(MHD),‌‌Islamabad‌  ‌
Tel‌‌:‌‌+92‌‌51‌‌111‌‌466‌‌472‌  ‌
Email:‌‌mhdislamabad@iom.int‌‌    ‌
 ‌

 ‌

 ‌

GOVERNMENT‌‌OFFICES‌  ‌
Commissionerate‌‌Afghan‌‌Refugees,‌‌Khyber‌‌Pakhtunkhwa‌  ‌
Peshawar‌  ‌
PDA‌‌Plaza,‌‌Hayatabad,‌‌Phase‌‌5,‌‌Peshawar.‌  ‌
  ‌ ‌
Website:‌‌h‌ ttp://kpkcar.org/‌  ‌
  ‌ ‌
Commissioner‌‌Office:‌  ‌
Tel.:‌‌+92-91-9217077‌  ‌
Fax:‌‌+92-91-9217076‌  ‌
E-mail:‌‌carnwfp@gmail.com‌  ‌
  ‌ ‌
Additional‌‌Commissioner‌‌(HQs):‌  ‌
Tel.:‌‌+92-91-9217101‌  ‌
Fax:‌‌+92-91-9217101‌  ‌
  ‌ ‌
Commissionerate‌‌Afghan‌‌Refugees,‌‌Punjab‌  ‌
Lahore‌  ‌
203-D‌‌Upper‌‌Mall‌‌Scheme,‌‌Lahore,‌‌Pakistan‌  ‌
Website:‌‌h‌ ttps://car.punjab.gov.pk/‌  ‌
Phone:‌‌+9242-35877011,‌‌42-35877026‌  ‌
Fax:‌‌+9242-35760132‌  ‌
  ‌ ‌
Commissionerate‌‌Afghan‌‌Refugees,‌‌Balochistan‌  ‌
Quetta‌  ‌
DETAILS‌‌NEEDED‌  ‌
  ‌ ‌
Commissionerate‌‌Afghan‌‌Refugees,‌‌Sindh‌  ‌

17‌  ‌
Karachi‌  ‌
OFFICE‌‌CLOSED.‌  ‌
  ‌ ‌
Ministry‌‌of‌‌States‌‌and‌‌Frontier‌‌Regions,‌‌Islamabad‌  ‌
Contacts‌‌list:‌‌LINK.‌  ‌
Federal‌‌Minister:‌‌Sahibzada‌‌Mehboob‌‌Sultan‌  ‌
9211405‌  ‌
9204003‌‌(NA)‌  ‌
9203765‌‌(FAX)‌  ‌
P.S.‌‌to‌‌Federal‌‌Minister:‌‌Mr.‌‌Muhammad‌‌Yaqoob‌  ‌
9206801‌  ‌
Website:‌h ‌ ttp://www.safron.gov.pk/index‌‌
   ‌
 ‌

 ‌

 ‌

PAKISTAN‌‌EMBASSY,‌‌KABUL,‌‌AFGHANISTAN‌‌[FOR‌‌VISAS‌‌INTO‌‌PAKISTAN]‌  ‌
WhatsApp‌‌Visa‌‌Officer:‌‌(+93)‌‌70‌‌072‌‌8627‌  ‌
Visa‌‌Assistance:‌‌(+93)‌‌78‌‌632‌‌4769‌  ‌
Ambassador’s‌‌Office:‌‌(+93)‌‌70‌‌730‌‌0900‌  ‌
 ‌
Address‌‌Embassy‌‌of‌‌Pakistan,‌‌Kart-e-Parwan,‌‌Kabul.‌  ‌
Emails:‌‌parepkabul@yahoo.com‌ ‌/‌‌parepkabul@mofa.gov.pk‌  ‌
Web:‌‌http://www.pakembassykabul.org/en/consular-services/visa-application/‌  ‌

 ‌

FOREIGN‌  ‌EMBASSIES‌  ‌& ‌ ‌CONSULATES‌  ‌[ESPECIALLY‌  ‌FOR‌  ‌AFGHANS‌  ‌ON‌‌

 
EVACUATION‌‌LISTS‌  ‌
<MORE‌‌TO‌‌BE‌‌ADDED>‌  ‌

Islamabad‌  ‌
German‌‌Embassy,‌‌Islamabad‌  ‌
Website:‌h ‌ ttps://pakistan.diplo.de/pk-en‌  ‌
Contact‌‌form:‌‌https://pakistan.diplo.de/pk-en/vertretungen/botschaft/kontakt-formular‌  ‌
Note‌‌of‌‌Afghan‌‌Applicants:‌h‌ ttps://pakistan.diplo.de/pk-en/service/-/2208620‌  ‌
 ‌
UK‌‌High‌‌Commission,‌‌Islamabad‌  ‌
Diplomatic‌‌Enclave,‌‌Ramna‌‌5,‌‌P‌‌O‌‌Box‌‌1122,‌‌Islamabad‌  ‌
Pakistan‌  ‌
General‌‌telephone‌  ‌

18‌  ‌
+92‌‌51‌‌201‌‌2000‌  ‌
Email:‌‌Islamabad-general.enquiries@fcdo.gov.uk.‌  ‌
 ‌
US‌‌Embassy,‌‌Islamabad‌  ‌
Ramna‌‌5‌‌Diplomatic‌‌Enclave,‌‌Islamabad,‌‌44000‌  ‌
Phone:‌‌+92‌‌51‌‌2080000‌  ‌
Note‌‌on‌‌Afghan‌‌visa‌‌processing:‌L ‌ INK‌  ‌
Website:‌h ‌ ttps://pk.usembassy.gov/‌‌    ‌
 ‌
French‌‌Embassy,‌‌Islamabad‌‌    ‌
Tel:+92‌‌51‌‌201‌‌15‌‌75‌  ‌
Fax:‌‌+92‌‌51‌‌201‌‌15‌‌60‌  ‌
Visa‌‌Section:‌ visas.islamabad-amba@diplomatie.gouv.fr‌  ‌
Website:‌h ‌ ttps://pk.ambafrance.org/-France-in-Pakistan-‌   ‌
Email‌‌for‌‌Afghan‌‌visas‌‌for‌‌France,‌‌family‌‌reunification:‌‌
 
afghans-visas-ofii-ofpra.islamabad-amba@diplomatie.gouv.fr‌  ‌
 ‌

Karachi‌  ‌
German‌‌Consulate,‌‌Karachi‌‌    ‌
Tel:‌‌+92‌‌21‌‌35‌‌87‌‌37‌‌82,‌‌+92‌‌21‌‌35‌‌87‌‌37‌‌83,‌‌+92‌‌21‌‌35‌‌87‌‌02‌‌34‌  ‌
Fax:‌‌+92‌‌21‌‌35‌‌87‌‌40‌‌09‌  ‌
92-A/7,‌‌Block‌‌5,‌‌Clifton,‌‌Karachi,‌‌Pakistan.‌  ‌
 ‌
Opening‌‌hours‌  ‌
Monday‌‌-‌‌Thursday‌  ‌
7:30‌‌am‌‌-‌‌3:15‌‌pm‌  ‌
Friday:‌  ‌
7:30‌‌am‌‌-‌‌1:00‌‌pm‌  ‌
 ‌
Opening‌‌hours‌‌of‌‌the‌‌consular‌‌section‌  ‌
Submission‌‌of‌‌visa‌‌applications‌  ‌
(As‌‌per‌‌appointment)‌  ‌
 ‌
Collection‌‌of‌‌passports:‌  ‌
Monday‌‌-‌‌Thursday‌  ‌
10:00‌‌am‌‌-‌‌2:00‌‌pm‌  ‌
 ‌
Visa‌‌enquiries‌‌by‌‌telephone:‌  ‌
Tuesday‌‌and‌‌Thursday‌‌10:00‌‌am‌‌-‌‌12:00‌‌noon‌  ‌
Tel:‌‌+92‌‌21‌‌35‌‌82‌‌15‌‌96‌  ‌
Fax:‌‌+92‌‌21‌‌35‌‌82‌‌15‌‌97‌  ‌
Please‌‌note‌‌that‌‌visa‌‌enquiries‌‌by‌‌telephone‌‌will‌‌only‌‌be‌‌answered‌‌during‌‌the‌‌times‌‌and‌‌over‌‌
 
the‌‌number‌‌indicated‌‌above.‌  ‌
 ‌
 ‌
 ‌

19‌  ‌
UK‌‌Consulate,‌‌Karachi‌‌    ‌
British‌‌Deputy‌‌High‌‌Commission‌‌Karachi‌  ‌
Shahrah-e-Iran‌  ‌
Clifton‌  ‌
Karachi‌‌75600‌  ‌
 ‌
General‌‌telephone‌  ‌
+92‌‌(21)‌‌35827000‌  ‌
 ‌
Passport‌‌enquiries‌‌telephone‌  ‌
00‌‌44‌‌208‌‌082‌‌4744‌  ‌
 ‌
General‌‌fax‌  ‌
+92‌‌(21)‌‌35827005‌  ‌
 ‌
Consular‌‌fax‌  ‌
+92‌‌(21)‌‌35827012‌  ‌
 ‌
 ‌
US‌‌Consulate,‌‌Karachi‌‌    ‌
Plot‌‌3,‌‌4,‌‌5,‌‌New‌‌TPX‌‌Area‌  ‌
Mai‌‌Kolachi‌‌Road,‌‌Karachi‌  ‌
Phone:‌‌(+92)‌‌(21)‌‌3527-5000‌  ‌
Fax:‌‌(+92)‌‌(21)‌‌3527-5985‌  ‌
 ‌
 ‌
 ‌
French‌‌Consulate,‌‌Karachi‌‌    ‌
Tel:‌‌+92‌‌(0)‌‌21‌‌35‌‌87‌‌37‌‌98‌‌and‌‌+92‌‌(0)‌‌21‌‌35‌‌86‌‌24‌‌37‌  ‌
In‌‌case‌‌of‌‌emergency:‌‌+‌‌92‌‌(0)‌‌300‌‌821‌‌4299‌  ‌
Email:‌ consulat.karachi-fslt@diplomatie.gouv.fr‌  ‌
Fax:‌‌+92‌‌(0)‌‌2135873073‌  ‌
  ‌ ‌

INDEPENDENT‌‌LAWYERS‌‌WORKING‌‌WITH‌‌AFGHANS‌‌IN‌‌PAKISTAN‌  ‌
Details‌  ‌to‌  ‌be‌  ‌added‌  ‌and‌  ‌only‌  ‌in‌  ‌agreement‌  ‌with‌  ‌lawyers‌  ‌who‌  ‌are‌  ‌willing‌  ‌to‌  ‌share‌‌
 
these‌‌details‌‌publicly.‌‌    ‌
 ‌
You‌  ‌can‌  ‌also‌  ‌email:‌  ‌academicsforafghansolidarity@gmail.com‌  ‌who‌  ‌may‌  ‌have‌‌  
suggestions‌‌   of‌‌
  who‌‌
 you‌‌  can‌‌ contact‌‌  directly.‌‌
 [Note‌‌
 this‌‌ email‌‌ is‌‌
 managed‌‌  by‌‌
 a ‌‌closed‌‌  
and‌‌
  moderated‌‌   group‌‌
  that‌‌
  will‌‌
  not‌‌
  share‌‌
 contacts‌‌
 and/or‌‌  sensitive‌‌  details‌‌  without‌‌  the‌‌
 
permissions‌‌of‌‌the‌‌lawyers‌‌in‌‌question.]‌  ‌
 ‌
● Khyber‌‌Pakhtunkhwa‌  ‌
● Punjab‌  ‌
● Sindh‌  ‌

20‌  ‌
 ● Balochistan‌  ‌
 ‌

 ‌

 ‌

OVERALL‌‌SUPPORT:‌‌CONTACT‌‌POINTS/‌‌ORGANISATIONS‌  ‌
Only‌‌
  those‌‌
  parties‌‌  and‌‌
  organisations‌‌
  confident‌‌
  with‌‌
  sharing‌‌
  their‌‌
  details‌‌
  publicly‌‌
  will‌‌
 
be‌‌added‌‌here.‌‌    ‌
 ‌
You‌  ‌can‌  ‌also‌  ‌email:‌  ‌academicsforafghansolidarity@gmail.com‌  ‌who‌  ‌may‌  ‌have‌‌  
suggestions‌‌of‌‌who‌‌you‌‌can‌‌contact‌‌directly.‌  ‌
● Khyber‌‌Pakhtunkhwa‌  ‌
● Punjab‌  ‌
● Sindh‌  ‌
● Balochistan‌  ‌
 ‌

 ‌

FOOD:‌‌CONTACT‌‌POINTS/‌‌ORGANISATIONS‌  ‌
Pakistan‌‌wide‌  ‌
Edhi‌‌
   ‌
Please‌‌check‌‌with‌‌local‌‌Edhi‌‌foundation:‌‌
   ‌
https://edhi.org/‌  ‌
 ‌
MORE‌‌DETAILS‌‌TO‌‌BE‌‌ADDED‌  ‌
Khyber‌‌Pakhtunkhwa‌  ‌
Punjab‌  ‌
Sindh‌  ‌
Balochistan‌  ‌
 ‌

 ‌

 ‌

SHELTER:‌‌CONTACT‌‌POINTS/‌‌ORGANISATIONS‌‌OFFERING‌‌
   ‌
*Note‌‌  for‌‌
  any‌‌
  organisers‌‌   who‌‌
  can‌‌
  offer‌‌
  support‌‌
  in‌‌
 finding‌‌ housing,‌‌ particularly‌‌
 for‌‌
 vulnerable‌ 
persons,‌‌   please‌‌ insert‌‌
 details‌‌
 here*‌‌ Only‌‌ those‌‌
 who‌‌  are‌‌
 willing‌‌
 to‌‌
 share‌‌ these‌‌
 details‌‌
 publicly‌‌
 
will‌‌be‌‌added‌‌here.‌‌*  
‌‌ ‌

21‌  ‌
 ‌
You‌  ‌can‌  ‌also‌  ‌email:‌  ‌academicsforafghansolidarity@gmail.com‌  ‌who‌  ‌may‌  ‌have‌‌
 
suggestions‌‌of‌‌who‌‌you‌‌can‌‌contact‌‌directly.‌‌
   ‌
 ‌
 ‌
Pakistan‌‌wide‌  ‌
Edhi‌‌
   ‌
Please‌‌check‌‌with‌‌local‌‌Edhi‌‌foundation:‌‌
   ‌
https://edhi.org/‌  ‌
 ‌
MORE‌‌DETAILS‌‌TO‌‌BE‌‌ADDED‌  ‌
Khyber‌‌Pakhtunkhwa‌  ‌
Punjab‌  ‌
Balochistan‌  ‌
Sindh‌  ‌
 ‌

HOSPITALS‌‌&‌‌HEALTHCARE‌  ‌
Government‌‌hospital‌‌care‌‌is‌‌free‌‌and‌‌should‌‌not‌‌require‌‌proof‌‌of‌‌ID.‌‌Some‌‌people,‌‌however,‌‌
 
have‌‌been‌‌turned‌‌away‌‌for‌‌not‌‌having‌‌ID.‌  ‌
 ‌
Private‌‌hospital‌‌care‌‌will‌‌admit‌‌most‌‌people‌‌for‌‌a‌‌fee.‌‌
   ‌
 ‌
 ‌

BASIC‌‌SHOPPING‌‌LIST‌  ‌
Water‌  ‌
Soap‌  ‌
Towels‌  ‌
Sanitary‌‌products‌  ‌
Milk‌‌powder‌‌for‌‌babies‌‌&‌‌water‌  ‌
Nappies‌‌for‌‌babies‌  ‌
Bedding‌‌    ‌
SIM‌‌cards‌  ‌
Small‌‌cash‌‌for‌‌food,‌‌travel‌  ‌
 ‌

22‌  ‌
 ‌

INTERCITY‌‌TRAVEL‌‌GUIDELINES‌‌&‌‌OPTIONS‌‌
 
FOR‌‌AFGHANS‌‌WITHOUT‌‌DOCUMENTATION‌  ‌
*Note‌‌for‌‌any‌‌organisers‌‌who‌‌can‌‌offer‌‌transport‌‌services,‌‌particularly‌‌for‌‌vulnerable‌‌  
persons*‌‌Only‌‌those‌‌who‌‌are‌‌willing‌‌to‌‌share‌‌these‌‌details‌‌publicly‌‌will‌‌be‌‌added‌‌here.‌‌*   ‌‌ ‌
 ‌
For‌‌new‌‌arrivals‌‌into‌‌Pakistan,‌‌it‌‌is‌‌important‌‌to‌‌note‌‌that‌‌intercity‌‌travel‌‌can‌‌often‌‌require‌‌  
individuals‌‌to‌‌show‌‌a‌‌form‌‌of‌‌identity‌‌(ID‌‌card,‌‌passport‌‌etc)‌‌at‌‌checkposts,‌‌which‌‌tend‌‌to‌‌be‌‌  
present‌‌in‌‌most‌‌cities‌‌and‌‌across‌‌motorways.‌‌Failure‌‌to‌‌have‌‌an‌‌ID‌‌card‌‌may‌‌result‌‌in‌‌a‌‌form‌‌  
of‌‌harassment‌‌by‌‌a‌‌law‌‌enforcement‌‌agency‌‌and‌‌extortion‌‌request.‌  ‌
 ‌
Most‌‌intercity‌‌travel‌‌is‌‌by‌‌bus,‌‌coach,‌‌train,‌‌or‌‌car.‌  ‌
 ‌
For‌‌those‌‌with‌‌funds,‌‌private‌‌car‌‌hire‌‌is‌‌possible‌‌and‌‌the‌‌safest‌‌option.‌‌It‌‌is,‌‌however,‌‌the‌‌  
most‌‌costly.‌‌    ‌
 ‌
The‌‌latest‌‌quotes‌‌for‌‌intercity‌‌travel‌‌from‌‌Quetta‌‌to‌‌Islamabad‌‌in‌‌a‌‌private‌‌car‌‌have‌‌  
varied‌‌from‌‌PKR‌‌35,000‌‌(USD‌‌210)‌‌to‌‌PKR‌‌100,000‌‌(USD‌‌600),‌‌with‌‌the‌‌usual‌‌figure‌‌  
being‌‌between‌‌PKR‌‌50,000‌‌(USD‌‌300)‌‌to‌‌PKR‌‌100,000‌‌(USD‌‌600).‌‌    ‌
 ‌
In‌‌some‌‌cases,‌‌drivers‌‌ask‌‌for‌‌50%‌‌payment‌‌upfront‌‌and‌‌50%‌‌on‌‌arrival‌‌at‌‌the‌‌  
destination.‌‌    ‌
 ‌
We‌‌have‌‌been‌‌told‌‌to‌‌avoid‌‌hiring‌‌big‌‌vans‌‌or‌‌coaches‌‌as‌‌it‌‌attracts‌‌more‌‌attention‌‌at‌‌  
checkpoints--organisers‌‌on‌‌the‌‌ground‌‌should‌‌confirm‌‌if‌‌this‌‌is‌‌the‌‌case‌‌or‌‌not.‌  ‌
 ‌
 ‌
Note‌‌for‌‌organisers‌:‌a ‌ s‌‌more‌‌people‌‌arrive‌‌in‌‌the‌‌country,‌‌it‌‌may‌‌be‌‌useful‌‌to‌‌identify‌‌a‌‌pool‌‌  
of‌‌trusted‌‌and‌‌reliable‌‌drivers‌‌who‌‌are‌‌able‌‌to‌‌drive‌‌people‌‌across‌‌cities.‌‌    ‌
 ‌
Intercity‌‌air‌‌travel:‌‌‌For‌‌people‌‌with‌‌funds‌‌and‌‌valid‌‌travel‌‌documents‌‌(passports‌‌and‌‌visas),‌‌  
air‌‌travel‌‌is‌‌possible.‌  ‌
 ‌
 ‌
DETAILS‌‌TBD‌  ‌
Khyber‌‌Pakhtunkhwa‌  ‌
Punjab‌  ‌
Sindh‌  ‌
Balochistan‌  ‌

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CASE‌‌WORKERS:‌‌TIP‌‌FOR‌‌ORGANISERS‌  ‌
The‌‌process‌‌of‌‌fleeing‌‌your‌‌home‌‌to‌‌another‌‌country‌‌is‌‌incredibly‌‌stressful.‌‌So‌‌too‌‌is‌‌finding‌‌
 
accommodation,‌‌travel,‌‌and‌‌understanding‌‌the‌‌legal‌‌processes‌‌of‌‌what‌‌your‌‌status‌‌is‌‌in‌‌a ‌‌
new‌‌country.‌‌For‌‌those‌‌people‌‌who‌‌are‌‌working‌‌with‌‌newly‌‌arriving‌‌Afghan‌‌families‌‌and‌‌  
individuals,‌‌if‌‌we‌‌can‌‌assign‌‌a‌‌“Case‌‌Worker”‌‌or‌‌“Case‌‌Team”‌‌(Amber,‌‌Green,‌‌Blue)‌‌for‌‌  
consistency‌‌and‌‌trust,‌‌this‌‌would‌‌be‌‌immensely‌‌helpful.‌‌This‌‌is‌‌a‌‌model‌‌used‌‌in‌‌other‌‌asylum‌‌  
and‌‌migration‌‌settings.‌  ‌

 ‌

POLITICAL‌‌PRESSURE‌‌POINTS:‌‌WHAT‌‌NEXT‌  ‌
For‌  ‌activists,‌  ‌organisations,‌  ‌and‌  ‌pressure‌  ‌groups:‌  ‌The‌  ‌situation‌  ‌for‌  ‌Afghans‌  ‌is‌‌  
urgent.‌  ‌Despite‌  ‌a ‌ ‌number‌  ‌of‌  ‌failings,‌  ‌there‌  ‌is‌  ‌still‌  ‌time‌  ‌to‌  ‌act.‌  ‌Please‌  ‌put‌  ‌pressure‌‌ 
using‌‌your‌‌networks‌‌and‌‌contacts‌‌on‌‌the‌‌following‌‌issues:‌  ‌
  ‌ ‌
Several‌‌concrete‌‌steps‌‌must‌‌be‌‌taken‌‌immediately:‌  ‌
1. Pressure‌‌   the‌‌
  government‌‌   of‌‌
 Pakistan‌‌  to‌‌ keep‌‌  borders‌‌  open‌‌  for‌‌
 newly‌‌  entering‌‌ 
Afghan‌‌refugees.‌  ‌
2. Encourage‌  ‌the‌  ‌government‌  ‌of‌  ‌Pakistan‌  ‌to‌  ‌adhere‌  ‌to‌  ‌the‌  ‌principles‌  ‌of‌‌  
non-refoulement‌  ‌and‌  ‌deter‌  ‌the‌  ‌government‌  ‌of‌  ‌Pakistan‌  ‌from‌  ‌deporting‌‌  
Afghans,‌‌both‌‌new‌‌and‌‌existing‌‌communities.‌  ‌
3. Lobby‌‌UNHCR‌‌to‌‌provide‌‌housing‌‌support‌‌for‌‌new‌‌asylum‌‌applications.‌  ‌
4. Increase‌  ‌funding‌  ‌for‌  ‌UNHCR‌  ‌and‌  ‌their‌  ‌local‌  ‌implementing‌  ‌partners‌  ‌in‌‌  
Pakistan.‌  ‌
5. Engage‌  ‌with‌  ‌existing‌  ‌Afghan‌  ‌experts,‌  ‌journalists,‌‌   academics,‌‌   and‌‌
  activists‌‌
  in‌‌
 
and‌‌outside‌‌of‌‌Pakistan.‌  ‌
6. Encourage‌  ‌Pakistan‌  ‌ascension‌  ‌to‌  ‌the‌  ‌UN‌  ‌1951‌  ‌Convention‌  ‌and‌  ‌1967‌‌  
Protocol;‌  ‌ensure‌  ‌equal‌  ‌treatment‌  ‌of‌  ‌refugees‌  ‌of‌  ‌all‌  ‌ethnic‌  ‌and‌  ‌religious‌‌  
backgrounds.‌  ‌
7. Encourage‌‌parliamentarians‌‌to‌‌pass‌‌the‌‌draft‌‌Refugee‌‌Law‌‌in‌‌circulation.‌  ‌
 ‌
  ‌ ‌

HIGHER‌  ‌EDUCATION‌  ‌& ‌ ‌ACADEMIC‌‌

 
RESEARCH‌‌SCHOLARSHIPS‌  ‌
Encourage‌‌universities‌‌to‌‌offer‌‌scholarships‌‌and‌‌sponsored‌‌visas‌‌for‌‌Afghan‌‌students‌‌and‌‌
 
researchers.‌‌More‌‌details‌‌to‌‌follow‌‌from‌‌colleagues‌‌working‌‌on‌‌this.‌‌
   ‌

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IMPORTANT‌‌LINKS‌  ‌
 ‌
UNHCR‌‌Pakistan.‌L ‌ INK‌  ‌
SHARP.‌L ‌ INK‌. ‌ ‌
Legal‌‌aid‌‌for‌‌Afghans.‌‌Summary.‌‌‌LINK.‌ 
Refugee‌‌Status‌‌Determination.‌L‌ INK‌. ‌ ‌
 ‌
 ‌

IF‌‌YOU‌‌NEED‌‌HELP‌‌FOR‌‌A‌‌SPECIFIC‌‌CASE‌  ‌
You‌‌can‌‌contact‌a
‌ cademicsforafghansolidarity@gmail.com‌‌‌who‌‌may‌‌be‌‌able‌‌to‌‌give‌‌
 
some‌‌general‌‌advice.‌‌Please‌‌note‌‌this‌‌email‌‌is‌‌volunteer‌‌based,‌‌so‌‌folks‌‌will‌ ‌try‌‌to‌‌
 
get‌‌back‌‌to‌‌you‌‌as‌‌quickly‌‌as‌‌they‌‌can.‌‌Please‌‌do‌‌not‌‌share‌‌sensitive‌‌content‌‌on‌‌this‌‌
 
email.‌  ‌

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