Afghanistan Times
Related Articles
AT Kabul: A growing deportation crisis is unfolding in South and Central Asia as Pakistan and Iran intensify efforts to expel Afghan nationals, sparking warnings from international agencies over the humanitarian and logistical challenges facing Afghanistan.
Since April 2025, more than 200,000 Afghans have left Pakistan, driven by an aggressive campaign targeting undocumented migrants. Pakistan’s Ministry of Interior reported that over 135,000 Afghans departed in April, 67,000 in May, and more than 3,000 in the first two days of June alone. The latest figures bring the total number of Afghan returns from Pakistan to over one million since Islamabad launched its repatriation drive in November 2023.
The campaign, which targets more than 800,000 Afghans whose residency permits have been revoked, includes many individuals born and raised in Pakistan. Authorities have linked undocumented Afghan residents to terrorism and security threats—allegations strongly denied by the Taliban government in Kabul.
The IOM has expressed grave concern over what it calls a “new and concerning trend”: the deportation of entire families rather than single individuals. The agency has urged both countries to halt forced returns until “safe, voluntary, and dignified” repatriation is possible, citing Afghanistan’s limited capacity to absorb the influx.
Despite appeals from international bodies and the Taliban-led government, both Iran and Pakistan appear committed to the expulsions. Pakistan is also considering revoking UNHCR-issued refugee cards held by 1.3 million Afghans by the end of June.
Analysts suggest that the deportation campaign, particularly in Pakistan, is politically motivated. Islamabad is under increasing pressure to address domestic security concerns, especially in its restive border regions.
As Eid al-Adha approaches, the pace of deportations has slowed slightly, but border crossings continue daily. Human rights organizations warn that Afghanistan’s fragile infrastructure and struggling economy cannot support the return of hundreds of thousands of displaced people—many of whom have few ties to the country they are being forced to return to.
