Pakistan’s Mass Deportation: Around 1.4M Afghans Forced to Leave

DID Press: Pakistan government carried out a sweeping expulsion drive targeting Afghan migrants, ordering nearly 1.4 million Afghans residing in the country — many holding registration or residency‑cards — to leave following expiration of their permits, according to recent official announcements and media reports.

Since early 2025, Pakistani authorities have intensified the crackdown under an “Illegal Foreigners Repatriation Plan,” detaining Afghan nationals without valid visas or expired registration, and deporting them, often under duress.

As of November, official tallies suggest that over 825,600 Afghans have already been returned to Afghanistan.

Humanitarian agencies — including the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) and researchers — warn that the new wave of deportations, often abrupt and large‑scale, risks triggering a humanitarian crisis. Many of those being returned have lived in Pakistan for decades; some were born there and have no memories of Afghanistan — leaving them vulnerable amid economic collapse, housing shortages and instability in their country of origin.

Critics argue the deportations violate international refugee‑protection norms, especially given the precarious conditions awaiting returnees. Calls for international support for both displaced Afghans and host communities are growing louder as the numbers climb.