Pakistan's Rapid Deportation of Afghan Refugees Raises Concerns

As Pakistan embarks on a large-scale expulsion of Afghan refugees, more than 19,500 individuals have already been deported this month alone. Amid growing concerns over national security and public services, Afghan families face an uncertain future as they are forced to return to a homeland many have never known.

Pakistan has launched an urgent campaign to deport undocumented Afghan refugees, with more than 19,500 individuals expelled this month alone, according to the United Nations. The total number of Afghans who have left Pakistan amidst these heightened expulsion efforts has surpassed 80,000, as the country approaches its 30 April deadline for undocumented migrants to depart. Amidst this crisis, Pakistani officials have stated that the daily deportations range from 700 to 800 families.

Pakistani Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar's recent visit to Kabul aimed to address concerns over the situation, meeting with Taliban officials including Amir Khan Muttaqi, who expressed serious apprehension regarding the ongoing deportations. Among those being sent back to Afghanistan are people who were born in Pakistan, highlighting the complexity of their identities.

The UN reports that over 3.5 million Afghans currently reside in Pakistan, with around 700,000 of them arriving in the wake of the Taliban's resurgence in 2021. Half of these individuals are believed to lack the necessary legal documentation. While Pakistan has sheltered Afghans for generations, officials argue that current numbers endanger national security and overburden healthcare and social services.

As tensions rise along the Pakistan-Afghanistan border, recent clashes have occurred between military forces, exacerbating the fragile relationship between the two countries. The Pakistani government has extended a deadline for undocumented Afghans to vacate the country by an additional month, but the rapid pace of deportation has left many families in despair.

Some deported individuals recounted their lives in Pakistan, having never set foot in Afghanistan. One man, a lifelong resident of Pakistan, lamented, “What am I supposed to do now?” Others expressed fear regarding their children's future under Taliban rule, particularly concerning education restrictions for girls.

At the Torkham border crossing, the conditions for returning families are grim. Reports indicate that individuals are receiving little support from Taliban authorities, as Afghan infrastructure struggles to meet the needs of a returning population. Many families have been forced to leave their possessions behind, facing logistical challenges and limited resources upon entry into Afghanistan.

With fierce heat and inadequate shelter at the border, tensions among returnees have escalated, as they await transport to their home provinces. Although the Taliban's appointed officials maintain they are handling the situation, the sheer volume of returnees adds strain to an already difficult humanitarian landscape in Afghanistan.