Pakistan urges Afghans to depart again
In recent months, Pakistan has been actively repatriating Afghan refugees in large numbers, primarily due to a government-led deportation drive aimed at removing foreign nationals without legal documentation. This move comes amidst growing security concerns and political considerations.
Since November 2023, the Pakistani authorities have deported approximately 1.3 million Afghans as part of a repatriation plan targeting "illegal foreigners," including holders of Afghan Citizen Cards and Proof of Registration cards, many of whom had resided in Pakistan for years.
The Pakistani government justifies this large-scale repatriation by enforcing immigration laws and addressing security challenges, especially in light of a resurgence of terrorist attacks within the country. This decision aligns with a broader plan announced in 2023 to evict illegal immigrants in a phased and orderly manner.
However, this move has sparked criticism from the Taliban-led interim government in Afghanistan, which calls the expulsions unacceptable. International organizations and human rights groups also express concerns over the humanitarian implications for deported Afghans, particularly those facing dire living conditions, poverty, and risks such as child protection issues, especially for girls.
The forced returns come amid growing regional tensions and insecurity within Afghanistan, which further complicates the situation for returnees. The United Nations estimates that over 700,000 Afghans have returned from Pakistan and Iran so far in 2025, many under coercion and lacking documentation for legal repatriation.
Mehar Ullah, a senior government official in Quetta, confirmed receiving directives to launch a fresh drive to repatriate all Afghans. The government warned Afghans of arrests if they did not leave in April 2023, and the renewal of the deportation drive was evident as thousands of Afghans gathered at the Chaman border in response to the call.
Some of the targeted Afghans were born in Pakistan or have lived there for decades. Abdul Latif Hakimi, the head of Refugee Registration in Afghanistan's Kandahar province, acknowledged an increase in returning Afghans. Despite the challenges, it is essential to address the situation with due regard for the humanitarian concerns and the need for a peaceful and orderly repatriation process.
[1] https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2023/11/10/pakistan-to-deport-1.3-million-afghans-in-mass-expulsion [2] https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/pakistan-deports-afghan-refugees-amid-growing-regional-tensions-2023-11-15/ [3] https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-64094702 [4] https://www.unhcr.org/news/latest/2023/10/636063133/unhcr-expresses-concern-pakistan-afghanistan-border-situation [5] https://www.refworld.org/docid/5e617c494.html
- The repatriation of Afghan refugees in Pakistan, which began in November 2023, is a politically motivated decision and part of a larger regional conflict, as it aligns with the government's objectives to enforce immigration laws and address security challenges, yet it has sparked protests from the Taliban-led interim government and criticism from international organizations due to its humanitarian implications.
- This mass expulsion of Afghans from Pakistan is not only a matter of immigration and security, but also a general news topic of global importance, as it involves war-and-conflicts in Afghanistan and the political considerations of the affected countries, as well as the human rights concerns and living conditions of the deported Afghans.
