Pakistan Expels Nearly 8,000 Afghans in One Day as Deportations Intensify

Pakistan Expels Nearly 8,000 Afghans in One Day as Deportations Intensify
………….

Pakistan expelled nearly 8,000 Afghan nationals on Saturday, November 1, amid an ongoing crackdown on undocumented migrants, Amu TV reported. According to the Taliban’s committee for refugees, the deportees crossed into Afghanistan through the Spin Boldak border point in Kandahar Province. Another 85 Afghans were returned from Iran, both forcibly and voluntarily, via the Islam Qala and Silk Bridge (Pul-e Abrisham) crossings.

The deportations are part of a mass repatriation campaign launched by Pakistan in October, following its deadline for undocumented foreigners to leave by November 1. Authorities say the policy is driven by national security concerns, claiming that militants have sought refuge among Afghan communities. On Friday alone, nearly 7,950 Afghans were expelled.

The campaign has affected more than one million Afghan nationals, many of whom had lived in Pakistan for decades or were born there. The sudden influx of returnees has overwhelmed Afghanistan’s border provinces—particularly Kandahar and Herat—where aid agencies report severe shortages of food, shelter, and medical care.

Families are reportedly living in makeshift tents, often without clean water, electricity, or access to employment. Children face worsening malnutrition and exposure to cold weather. Human rights organizations and UN agencies have urged Islamabad to halt mass deportations, warning that Afghanistan’s economic collapse and fragile infrastructure make it incapable of absorbing large numbers of returnees.

The Taliban government, still under international sanctions, has acknowledged it lacks the resources to provide adequate assistance. Despite mounting international concern, Pakistani authorities have defended the expulsions as necessary for domestic security, continuing deportations through major crossings such as Torkham, Spin Boldak, and Chaman. Iran has also continued smaller-scale removals of undocumented Afghans, maintaining strict border controls.

The mass deportations come amid strained relations between Islamabad and Kabul. Pakistan accuses the Taliban of harboring militants from the banned Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), responsible for attacks inside Pakistan. The Taliban has denounced the deportations as inhumane but has yet to outline a comprehensive plan to address the worsening humanitarian crisis.