Pakistan’s mass expulsion of Afghan refugees and Europe’s push for deportations raise humanitarian concerns
As conflict intensifies between Pakistan’s military and Taliban forces, Islamabad has launched a sweeping campaign to expel all Afghan migrants from its territory — a move that coincides with renewed calls by 20 European nations to increase deportations of Afghan asylum seekers.
According to Pakistan’s Geo News, the government has begun a phased repatriation of Afghan nationals following orders to clear refugee camps in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and conduct house-to-house inspections in Quetta. By October 16, more than 1.4 million Afghans had reportedly crossed back into Afghanistan. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said Pakistan could “no longer bear the burden” of hosting refugees and blamed decades of instability in Afghanistan for Pakistan’s domestic security challenges.
The expulsions come amid escalating clashes along the Afghan–Pakistani border, where the army is fighting Taliban militants. Analysts warn that the mass return could trigger a new humanitarian crisis in eastern Afghanistan, where infrastructure and aid systems remain fragile. Observers also caution that the move risks deepening tensions between the two neighbours and destabilising the broader region.
At the same time, 20 European countries — including Germany — have urged the European Commission to expand mechanisms for returning undocumented Afghan migrants. In a joint letter to EU Migration Commissioner Magnus Brunner, published by the Dutch government and reported by Reuters, they cited legal and security concerns while stressing the need for “effective and orderly” migration management.
Experts have warned that both Pakistan’s expulsions and Europe’s deportation initiatives could expose thousands of Afghans to renewed risks inside Afghanistan, where poverty, insecurity, and limited access to aid persist under Taliban rule. Human rights groups have called on governments to coordinate returns responsibly and ensure compliance with international humanitarian and refugee protection laws.
