Over 100000 Afghans Deported From Pakistan Since April 1
More than 100,000 Afghan nationals have been deported from Pakistan over the past three weeks, according to figures released by Pakistan’s Ministry of Interior.
The deportations are part of the second phase of Islamabad’s crackdown on undocumented migrants, primarily targeting Afghan citizens.
As of 1 April, a total of 100,529 Afghans have been expelled, out of an estimated three million Afghan refugees residing in Pakistan, according to the United Nations. The campaign has intensified across several provinces, including Islamabad, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, and Balochistan.
In March, Pakistani authorities announced the renewed deportation drive, accusing Afghan migrants of involvement in drug trafficking and “supporting terrorism.” The statement was followed by widespread arrests and detentions, prompting concerns from human rights groups and international organisations.
Many of the deported Afghans had lived in Pakistan for decades, some arriving as early as the 1980s during the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan. The return to a Taliban-ruled Afghanistan, which is currently facing one of the worst humanitarian and economic crises in its history, has left many in shock and despair.
The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) has raised alarm over the growing humanitarian crisis. With approximately 5,000 migrants returning to Afghanistan each week, the organisation warned that millions are now facing deepening poverty and widespread displacement. The ICRC noted that more than half of Afghanistan’s population is reliant on humanitarian assistance.
