Afghan Migrants in Pakistan Face Rising Pressure Amid Deportation Drive
Afghan Migrants in Pakistan Face Rising Pressure Amid Deportation Drive
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Afghan migrants in Pakistan say they are facing mounting pressure from authorities amid renewed border tensions and an expanded deportation campaign, Amu TV reported. The crackdown follows recent clashes between the Taliban and Pakistani forces and the government’s decision to accelerate the removal of Afghan nationals living in the country.
Residents in several areas of Islamabad reported police conducting door-to-door searches on October 21. Many Afghans said their requests to extend legal residency have been denied, while landlords have been instructed not to renew leases for undocumented tenants. The Pakistani government has warned that assisting Afghan citizens without valid documentation is a criminal offense.
Migrants describe worsening living conditions, with many families now homeless after being evicted. Rights groups say the intensified measures have triggered a humanitarian crisis affecting thousands of Afghans who had lived in Pakistan for years. Advocates noted that the sudden evictions have also created tensions for property owners forced to comply with government directives.
The move comes after border clashes in recent weeks prompted the Pakistani prime minister to order large-scale expulsions, instructing authorities to grant no further extensions or leniency. Human rights organizations have condemned the policy, saying it violates international legal obligations, including the principle of non-refoulement, which prohibits returning individuals to places where they may face danger.
Pakistan’s deportation plan is being carried out in three phases. The first phase, launched in October 2023, targeted undocumented migrants, leading to the expulsion of more than 468,000 people by the end of that year. The second phase, implemented in April 2025, focused on Afghan citizenship card holders, resulting in the return of over 800,000 people. The third phase, which began in September 2025, targets holders of Proof of Registration (PoR) cards.
The United Nations and humanitarian organizations warn that many returnees are arriving in Afghanistan without housing, resources, or assistance, adding pressure to a country already struggling with economic collapse, human rights restrictions, natural disasters, and severe shortages of essential services. Aid groups have cautioned that the surge in returns risks deepening Afghanistan’s humanitarian crisis.
