Pakistan Deportations of Afghans Continue as Thousands Expelled in One Day

Pakistan Deportations of Afghans Continue as Thousands Expelled in One Day
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Pakistan expelled 7,849 migrants on Monday, November 17, as part of its ongoing crackdown on undocumented foreigners, Amu TV reported. The figures were released by the Taliban’s commission for refugees, which also noted that Iran deported an additional 382 Afghans during the same period through a combination of voluntary and forced returns.

According to the commission, returnees entered Afghanistan through key border crossings, including Torkham and Spin Boldak along the Pakistani frontier, as well as Islam Qala and Silk Bridge on the border with Iran. The rise in expulsions follows heightened tensions between Islamabad and the Taliban, along with a directive issued this month by Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif to intensify the identification and removal of undocumented migrants.

The latest wave of deportations comes just a day after Pakistan expelled 7,744 Afghans, many of whom were forcibly taken from cities such as Islamabad and Rawalpindi. Human rights groups have raised alarms over the treatment of detainees and concerns about whether due process is being upheld during the removals.

Pakistan’s crackdown has resulted in large numbers of Afghans being held in temporary facilities before expulsion, drawing criticism from international organizations. The concurrent deportations by Pakistan and Iran have increased pressure on Afghanistan, which is struggling to absorb returnees amid severe economic challenges and ongoing political isolation under Taliban governance.