In the last three weeks, over 100,000 Afghans have left Pakistan, according to the interior ministry’s announcement on Tuesday. This mass exodus follows Islamabad’s decision to cancel residence permits on a large scale.
Afghans without proper identification were deported during the first phase of a broader government initiative launched in 2023 to repatriate all undocumented foreigners.
Experts suggest that these expulsions are a tactic to exert pressure on the Taliban authorities in neighboring Afghanistan, whom Islamabad accuses of contributing to an increase in border violence.
The interior ministry informed AFP that “100,529 Afghans have left in April.”
Since the beginning of the month, convoys of Afghan families have been making their way to the border, as the deadline for departure has passed, entering a country already grappling with a humanitarian crisis.
“I was born in Pakistan and have never set foot in Afghanistan,” shared 27-year-old Allah Rahman with AFP at the Torkham border on Saturday.
“I was scared that the police would humiliate me and my family. Now, we’re returning to Afghanistan out of sheer helplessness.”
Afghanistan’s Prime Minister Hasan Akhund expressed his disapproval on Saturday regarding the “unilateral measures” taken by Pakistan. This statement came after Pakistan’s Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar made a brief visit to Kabul to discuss the issue of returns.
Akhund has called on the Pakistani government to “help ensure the dignified return of Afghan refugees.”
Many individuals are choosing to leave voluntarily rather than face deportation, but the UN refugee agency, UNHCR, reported that in April alone, there were more arrests and detentions in Pakistan—12,948—than in all of last year.
Pakistan’s security forces are feeling immense pressure along the border with Afghanistan as they confront a rising insurgency from terrorists in Balochistan to the southwest, as well as the Pakistani Taliban and its affiliates in the northwest.
Last year marked the deadliest period in Pakistan in a decade.
The government has often claimed that Afghan nationals are involved in attacks and accuses Kabul of harboring terrorists, a charge that Taliban leaders firmly reject.
Over the past several decades, millions of Afghans have sought refuge in Pakistan, fleeing ongoing wars, with hundreds of thousands arriving since the Taliban regained power in 2021.
As security and economic challenges deepen, some Pakistanis are growing tired of hosting a large Afghan population, and there is significant support for the deportation campaign.
“They came here seeking refuge but ended up taking jobs and starting businesses. They’ve taken jobs from Pakistanis who are already struggling,” said 41-year-old hairdresser Tanveer Ahmad while giving a customer a shave.
On Friday, the UNHCR reported that over half of the Afghans being deported are children. Among those making the journey, women and girls are entering a country where they face restrictions on education beyond secondary school and are excluded from many job sectors.
During the initial phase of returns in 2023, hundreds of thousands of undocumented Afghans were compelled to cross the border within just a few weeks.
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Q1.Why are Afghans being deported from Pakistan?
Pakistan launched a nationwide campaign in 2023 to repatriate all undocumented foreigners. In the first phase, Afghans without valid identification were deported, triggering a mass exodus. The policy aims to address national security and administrative concerns.
Q2.How many Afghans have left Pakistan recently?
According to the Interior Ministry, over 100,000 Afghans left Pakistan in April alone, making their way to Afghanistan in large convoys, many under pressure or fear of deportation.
Q3.What is the reason behind this large-scale Afghan deportation?
The Pakistani government has cited national security concerns and increasing border violence, accusing Afghan nationals of involvement in attacks. Experts suggest the move may also be a way to pressure the Taliban government in Kabul.
Q4.Are children and women also affected by the deportations?
Yes, the UNHCR reported that over half of those deported are children. Many Afghan women and girls are returning to a country where they face restrictions on education and employment, raising humanitarian concerns.
Q5.What is the current situation at the Pakistan-Afghanistan border?
The Pakistan-Afghanistan border has seen a spike in activity, with Afghan families rushing to leave. Tensions remain high as Pakistan faces a rising insurgency and internal security challenges, particularly in regions like Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
Q6.How has the Afghan government responded?
Afghan Prime Minister Hasan Akhund criticized Pakistan’s unilateral actions, urging Islamabad to ensure the dignified return of Afghan refugees. Diplomatic talks between the two countries are ongoing but remain tense.
