Pakistan’s Afghan Repatriation Drive Sparks Humanitarian Concerns
Pakistan’s ongoing repatriation of Afghan nationals has intensified, with over 80,000 expelled since April 1, 2025, under the Illegal Foreigners Repatriation Plan.
The initiative, labeled “forced deportation” by Afghanistan, has drawn sharp criticism from human rights groups for endangering vulnerable populations, including women and children.
A Hardline Policy
Talal Chaudhry, Pakistan’s Interior Ministry adviser, announced on Friday that no further extensions would be granted beyond the April 30 deadline for undocumented Afghans.
“We have communicated clear instructions to all provinces, if anyone gives a shop, house, or any kind of space to an illegal foreigner, they will be held accountable under the law,” Chaudhry stated.
This follows the expulsion of nearly 60,000 Afghans in early April alone, as reported by the International Organization for Migration (IOM).
Mihyung Park, head of IOM’s Afghanistan mission, warned, “With a new wave of large-scale returns now under way from Pakistan, needs on the ground are rising rapidly – both at the border and in areas of return that are struggling to absorb large numbers of returnees.”
Diplomatic Tensions
On April 19, Pakistan’s Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar visited Kabul for high-level talks with the Taliban-led government, the first such visit since 2022.
The Taliban’s acting foreign minister, Amir Khan Muttaqi, expressed “concern and sadness” over the deportations, urging Pakistan to “prevent the violation of the rights of Afghans.”
Discussions also covered trade, security, and ensuring returnees could retain proceeds from their properties. Pakistan’s foreign office emphasized resolving “issues related to security and border management” to enhance regional connectivity.
However, tensions persist, with Islamabad linking Afghan refugees to security threats — a claim Kabul rejects as politically motivated.
Humanitarian Fallout
Human rights groups have condemned the campaign, highlighting risks to vulnerable groups facing insecurity or persecution in Afghanistan.
Akber Khan, a Peshawar restaurant owner, told The Associated Press, “I have been here for almost 50 years. I got married here, so did my children, and 10 of my family members are buried here. That’s why we have no desire to leave.”
As Pakistan processes returnees at temporary holding centers, primarily at the Torkham border, the humanitarian toll of this policy continues to mount, raising urgent questions about regional stability and refugee rights.