Pakistan has deported more than 8,000 Afghan refugees in the latest phase of a nationwide crackdown targeting undocumented immigrants, officials confirmed on Wednesday. The move comes after the expiration of a deadline on March 31 for holders of Afghan Citizen Cards (ACC) to voluntarily leave the country.
According to official sources, approximately 8,115 Afghan nationals have been repatriated to Afghanistan via the Torkham border crossing since April 1. The majority of those deported were detained in Punjab province, where the government has ramped up efforts to identify and remove undocumented Afghans.
“They were arrested from different areas, mostly in Punjab, and handed over to Afghan authorities,” officials said. The deportation process includes verification of detainees before they are sent across the border.
Punjab authorities reported the arrest of over 5,000 Afghan nationals in recent days, with operations continuing across various districts. Security agencies have reportedly identified around 100,000 Afghans living illegally in Punjab alone, who are expected to be traced and deported in the coming days. However, officials clarified that Afghan nationals with valid documentation would not be expelled.
Similar operations are underway in Sindh province, where hundreds of Afghans have also been detained and deported, sources said.
This deportation marks the second phase of Pakistan’s effort to expel undocumented Afghans. The first phase, launched in September 2023, led to the return of more than 800,000 Afghan nationals, including 70,494 families (469,159 individuals), primarily through the Torkham crossing and other border points.
Authorities say the ongoing countrywide crackdown targets individuals without Proof of Residence (PoR) cards and those with expired ACCs. Police operations remain active in major urban and rural areas, with detention centers processing Afghans before deportation.
Afghans have been migrating to Pakistan since the 1980s, initially fleeing the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan. Over the decades, Pakistan has hosted millions of Afghan refugees, many of whom have lived in the country for generations.
Pakistan’s latest measures have drawn concern from human rights groups and international observers, who urge a more humane and coordinated approach to managing refugee populations.
Sources By Agencies
