Pakistan to Begin Deportation of Around 20,000 Afghans From Peshawar

Pakistan to Begin Deportation of Around 20,000 Afghans From Peshawar
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Pakistani authorities have finalized preparations for a new phase of deportations that could see around 20,000 Afghan nationals returned from the northwestern city of Peshawar to Afghanistan, according to a report by The Express Tribune, as Islamabad continues its nationwide campaign against undocumented foreigners.

The Express Tribune reported on Friday, July 10, that authorities in Pakistan’s Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Province have completed preparations for a phased deportation operation targeting Afghan nationals without valid legal documents or with expired residency permits. The newspaper said police, district authorities, and security agencies have finalized operational plans in coordination with the federal government.

According to the report, police and security agencies in Peshawar have prepared lists of Afghan nationals expected to be included in the operation. Federal authorities are also expected to assist provincial officials in carrying out the deportation process.

Pakistan launched its nationwide campaign to deport undocumented foreign nationals in October 2023, saying the policy is intended to enforce immigration laws, improve border management, and address security concerns. Since then, hundreds of thousands of Afghans have returned or been deported to Afghanistan through the Torkham and Spin Boldak border crossings, according to Pakistani authorities and United Nations agencies.

The deportation campaign has drawn repeated concern from the United Nations, the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR), the International Organization for Migration (IOM), and human rights organizations. They have warned that many Afghans being returned face severe humanitarian conditions, limited access to livelihoods, and potential protection risks, particularly women, girls, journalists, former government employees, and others considered vulnerable under Taliban rule.