More Than 80,000 Afghans Deported From Pakistan in 2026

DID Press: More than 80,000 Afghan nationals were arrested and subsequently deported from Pakistan to Afghanistan between January 1 and September 12, 2026, according to joint monitoring by the International Organization for Migration (IOM) and the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR).

The UN agencies have documented large-scale returns from Pakistan throughout 2026. Their latest monitoring shows that millions of Afghans have returned to Afghanistan since Pakistan launched its repatriation campaign in 2023, with arrests and deportations continuing in Punjab, Balochistan, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and other areas.

According to the figures cited in the report, more than 787,000 Afghan nationals returned to Afghanistan during the period covered in 2026. The continued arrivals are taking place amid shortages of shelter, employment opportunities and public services, increasing pressure on returnees and host communities.

The United Nations has repeatedly urged Pakistan to ensure that returns are voluntary, safe and dignified and to identify people with specific protection needs before any forced return. IOM monitoring has also found that fear of arrest remains a major factor influencing Afghans’ decisions to return.

Meanwhile, Pakistan’s Punjab Home Department has intensified operations to identify and deport undocumented Afghan nationals. Pakistani authorities said in August that more than 2.68 million Afghans had been deported from Pakistan since the repatriation campaign began, while 39 holding centres were operating across Punjab. At that time, 188 Afghan nationals were being held in those centres pending repatriation through Torkham.

Pakistan has linked its deportation policy to security concerns and tensions with the Taliban authorities over militant activity. Islamabad has repeatedly accused militants of using Afghan territory to plan attacks in Pakistan, while Taliban authorities have rejected such accusations.