IOM, UNHCR: 517 Afghans Detained in Pakistan in One Week

DID Press: At least 517 Afghan nationals were detained in Pakistan’s Balochistan, Sindh and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa provinces between 11 and 17 October 2026, according to a joint report by the International Organization for Migration (IOM) and the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR).

The report said that during the same period, 3,883 Afghans returned to Afghanistan through the Torkham, Chaman and Bahramcha border crossings, including 499 who were deported.

The number of returns fell by 10 percent compared with the previous week, while deportations declined by 48 percent.

According to figures from the two organizations, more than 2.744 million Afghan nationals returned to Afghanistan from Pakistan between 15 September 2023 and 17 October 2026.

The report added that fear of arrest was the main reason for returning among 95 percent of undocumented Afghans and holders of Afghan Citizen Cards (ACC), as well as 68 percent of holders of Proof of Registration (PoR) cards.