Pakistan’s ongoing crackdown on undocumented migrants has led to the departure of over 860,000 Afghan nationals since September 2023, according to data from the International Organization for Migration (IOM). The majority of these individuals have returned to Afghanistan through border crossings in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province.
The repatriation initiative, which began in 2023, entered its second phase on April 1, 2025, following the expiration of the voluntary return deadline for Afghan Citizen Card (ACC) holders. Since then, 16,242 ACC holders have left Pakistan, with 9,439 departing voluntarily and 6,803 being deported. In total, 861,763 Afghans have returned to their homeland since mid-September 2023.
Authorities have established transit camps in Peshawar and Landi Kotal to facilitate the repatriation process. Afghan refugees from Punjab and Islamabad are transported to these camps for registration before being sent back to Afghanistan.
The mass exodus has raised concerns among international human rights organizations. Many returnees, including women and children, face dire conditions upon arrival in Afghanistan, lacking access to basic necessities such as shelter, food, and healthcare. Advocacy groups have urged Pakistan to halt forced deportations and called on the international community to provide support for the reintegration of returnees.
Pakistan maintains that the repatriation drive targets all undocumented foreigners and is not aimed specifically at Afghans. However, the scale of Afghan departures underscores the significant impact on this community. The government has stated that registered refugees with valid documentation are not subject to deportation.
As the situation unfolds, humanitarian agencies continue to monitor the developments and advocate for the rights and well-being of those affected by the repatriation efforts.
In Afghanistan, the sudden influx of returnees has strained already fragile infrastructure and humanitarian services. Many families arrive with few possessions, and limited economic opportunities make reintegration difficult. The Taliban-led government has acknowledged the challenge, but aid efforts remain limited amid ongoing international sanctions and lack of recognition.
Humanitarian agencies, including the UNHCR and IOM, have stepped in to provide temporary shelters, food supplies, and medical assistance at key border points such as Torkham and Chaman. However, aid workers on the ground report overwhelming demand and insufficient resources to meet the needs of the returning population.
In Pakistan, the repatriation campaign has drawn mixed reactions. While some segments of the public support the government’s efforts to regulate undocumented migration, others have criticized the sudden and large-scale expulsions, citing humanitarian concerns. Local and international rights bodies have also raised alarm about the treatment of Afghans during the deportation process, with reports of families being separated and inadequate legal recourse for those detained.
The Pakistani government, meanwhile, defends the drive as a matter of national security and economic stability. Officials argue that the presence of undocumented migrants places pressure on the country’s limited resources, particularly in areas such as education, healthcare, and housing. Authorities also cite concerns about cross-border militancy and the misuse of Pakistani identity documents.
As the second phase of the repatriation continues, uncertainty looms over the fate of thousands more Afghans still residing in Pakistan, including those who have lived there for decades. With no clear long-term strategy in place and mounting pressure on both sides of the border, the situation remains complex and volatile.
Observers say the success of the repatriation process will depend not only on Pakistan’s policies but also on the international community’s willingness to support Afghanistan’s capacity to absorb and reintegrate returnees. For now, the mass return of Afghan nationals marks one of the largest movements of displaced people in the region in recent years.
