Pakistan Tightens Policy, Expels Thousands of Afghanistani Refugees

DID Press: Pakistan’s recent crackdown on undocumented Afghanistani migrants has forced hundreds of thousands to leave the country and return to Afghanistan, according to the UN refugee agency.

The UNHCR said that between April and early October, more than 472,000 Afghanistani nationals had crossed back into Afghanistan amid tightening residency rules, arbitrary detentions, and mass deportations.

Pakistani authorities have defended the policy as a national security measure aimed at regulating the migrant population. However, observers say the crackdown has intensified alongside growing political and diplomatic tensions between Islamabad and Kabul.

The United Nations expressed deep concern over the humanitarian impact of the mass returns, warning that Afghanistan lacks the infrastructure and resources to absorb such a large influx. The agency said shortages of housing, basic services, and jobs could further destabilize the country.