Since the end of March, Pakistan has expelled over 80,000 Afghan nationals as part of an ongoing crackdown targeting those the government considers undocumented migrants.
Thousands of Afghans — many who’ve spent years or even decades in Pakistan — are being forced to return to a homeland they describe as dangerous, impoverished, and oppressive under Taliban rule. Many cite fears over job shortages, insecurity, and restrictions on women, particularly the ban on girls’ education.
“I came back with nothing but fear,” said Shahbaz Khan, who left Peshawar after five years. “Where will I work? How will my children go to school? Even medicine is scarce here,” he said, explaining he originally fled to Pakistan for safety and job opportunities.
Pakistan had given undocumented Afghans or those with Afghan Citizen Cards a final departure deadline of March 31, later extended to April 30 — but authorities have stressed no further extensions will follow.
“This deadline is final,” Talal Chaudhry, an adviser to Pakistan’s interior ministry, confirmed last week.
The UNHCR has voiced concern, noting many long-time Afghan residents are firmly integrated in Pakistani communities. UNHCR’s Philippa Candler highlighted that a non-return advisory has been in effect since the Taliban takeover in 2021, urging countries to halt forced returns.
The agency is particularly concerned about vulnerable groups — including women, minorities, journalists, artists, and human rights activists — and urged Pakistan to continue offering them protection.
Deportation Pace Slower Than Before
Despite tough government messaging, the pace of deportations has slowed compared to earlier phases of the policy. Analysts say local authorities in key provinces hesitate to enforce mass expulsions due to fears of unrest and logistical difficulties.
“Afghans can never be fully repatriated, especially in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa,” said Abdullah Khan of the Pakistan Institute for Conflict and Security Studies. He explained that longstanding border communities and rugged terrain make enforcement difficult, and people continue to cross illegally or exploit loopholes.
Though police raids have taken place in major cities like Islamabad and Rawalpindi, enforcement has been patchy, partly due to a “lack of aggressive implementation” and international pressure from aid groups and Kabul.
Since April, over 35,000 Afghans have crossed back into Afghanistan through the Torkham border, a much slower rate than the mass exodus seen in late 2023.
Shared History and Cultural Ties
Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, home to the largest Afghan population in Pakistan, has hosted refugees since the 1980s Soviet invasion of Afghanistan. Many families have since intermarried and built deep cultural and linguistic ties with local communities.
“I’ve lived here almost 50 years,” said Peshawar restaurant owner Akber Khan. “I married here. My children married here. Ten of my family members are buried here. This is home for us.”
Abdullah Khan noted that while the province’s government remains sympathetic to Afghan residents due to cultural connections, security concerns persist. Authorities worry that mass deportations could destabilise communities or spark unrest.
Leaving Under Pressure
At a roadside rest stop near Peshawar, a truck carrying 30 Afghans paused en route to the Torkham crossing. Families sat among bundles of clothing and belongings.
Ajab Gul, one of the passengers, said their departure wasn’t voluntary. “We didn’t want to leave. Our houses were raided two or three times. We’re going because we have no choice.”
Near the border, returnee Jannat Gul described a bleak future ahead. “Our kids’ education is ruined. We’re going back to a place where no one knows us, where they call us Pakistanis. Even our own people don’t accept us.”
One of the biggest reasons families resist returning is the Taliban’s ban on girls’ education beyond grade six. Suze van Meegen, interim Afghanistan country director for the Norwegian Refugee Council, warned of dire consequences.
“Women and girls will again drop to the bottom of family priorities,” Ms van Meegen said. “If families can barely afford to send a daughter to school, that will be the first thing cut. When resources are scarce, it’s women and girls who suffer most.”
Pakistan has established temporary holding centres in multiple cities to house Afghans before sending them to the Torkham crossing. But for those leaving, the future is filled with uncertainty and a sense of being driven from the only home they’ve known for years.
