Pakistan Returns 2.59M Afghan Migrants Under Deportation Campaign

DID Press: Pakistani authorities say approximately 2.59 million Afghan nationals have been returned to Afghanistan since the launch of the country’s deportation campaign in 2023, adding that the removal of undocumented migrants will continue.

Officials from Pakistan’s Punjab province said 138,342 Afghan migrants have been detained in holding centers, where their identities and documents were verified before they were deported to Afghanistan through the Torkham border crossing.

Authorities also stated that inspections of markets and residential areas have been completed, and Afghan nationals without valid visas or legal residency permits will continue to be detained and transferred to holding facilities pending deportation.

Punjab officials further urged local residents to report undocumented Afghan migrants to the police to accelerate identification and deportation procedures.

Meanwhile, many Afghan migrants have previously reported that landlords have asked them to vacate their homes as security and administrative pressure has intensified. They say finding new accommodation has become nearly impossible for those without legal residency documents.

Pakistan’s large-scale deportation campaign, launched in late 2023, has drawn criticism from international organizations and human rights groups. They have warned that the forced return of Afghan migrants—particularly women, children, and other at-risk individuals—could expose them to serious security and humanitarian risks upon their return to Afghanistan.