UN: Over 1.2 Million Afghans Deported from Pakistan Since Late 2023

UN: Over 1.2 Million Afghans Deported from Pakistan Since Late 2023
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The UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR) reports that more than 1.2 million Afghans have returned from Pakistan since September 2023, amid an intensified deportation campaign by Pakistani authorities.

Senior officials in Balochistan province, including Mehrullah in Quetta, confirmed a new government directive to repatriate all Afghans—regardless of residency permits or refugee status—through an “orderly and dignified” process.

Local official Habib Bangalzai stated that around 4,000 to 5,000 individuals gathered at the Chaman border crossing on Friday alone. Across the border, Kandahar official Abdul Latif Hakimi noted a sharp rise in returnees in recent days. The UNHCR warned that many Afghans are returning to dire conditions and called for urgent humanitarian assistance.

Since January 1, 2025, nearly two million Afghans have been repatriated from both Pakistan and Iran. Pakistan revoked the residency permits of 800,000 Afghans in April 2025, escalating the crisis. The World Food Programme estimates that one in five Afghans faces hunger.