Pakistan Deports Nearly 140,000 Afghan Migrants from Punjab

DID Press: Pakistani authorities say nearly 140,000 Afghan nationals have been returned from Punjab province to Afghanistan as part of an ongoing campaign targeting undocumented migrants, despite continued concerns from international organizations over the humanitarian impact of the deportations.

According to Punjab’s provincial authorities, 139,902 Afghan nationals have been repatriated after completing administrative procedures and being transferred through designated border crossings into Afghanistan.

Pakistan says the operation applies only to foreign nationals without valid residence or travel documents and is part of its broader effort to enforce immigration regulations.

International humanitarian agencies, however, have repeatedly warned that the large-scale return of Afghan migrants could worsen humanitarian conditions in Afghanistan, where many returnees face limited access to shelter, employment and essential services.