Wave of Deportations: Pakistan Expels Thousands of Afghans Amid Growing Tensions

Pakistan has intensified its expulsion of undocumented Afghans, with over 19,500 individuals deported this month alone. As families grapple with returning to a country many have never known, the ramifications of these actions are putting additional strain on Afghanistan’s already fragile infrastructure.

Pakistan has entered a critical phase in its handling of Afghan refugees, having deported more than 19,500 individuals this month, with the UN estimating that over 80,000 Afghans have left in anticipation of the 30 April deadline. The Pakistani government has intensified its efforts to expel undocumented Afghans and those holding temporary permits, claiming that it can no longer accommodate their presence.

Current reports indicate that Taliban officials estimate between 700 and 800 families are being deported daily, and it is predicted that upwards of two million Afghans may leave Pakistan in the coming months. This escalated situation prompted Pakistani Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar to travel to Kabul for discussions with Taliban counterparts. There, Amir Khan Muttaqi raised "deep concern" regarding the mass deportations.

Many Afghans expelled from Pakistan have roots in the country, with some stating they were born there after their families fled conflict in Afghanistan. According to the UN Refugee Agency, over 3.5 million Afghans reside in Pakistan, with around 700,000 having arrived following the Taliban's resurgence in 2021. Estimates suggest roughly half of these individuals lack proper documentation.

While Pakistan has a history of providing refuge during decades of conflict, the government now cites national security risks and pressure on public services as justifications for their expulsion policies. Notably, border tensions have been escalating, with Pakistan attributing some clashes to militants based in Afghanistan—a claim the Taliban disputes.

In a recent meeting in Kabul, both sides reportedly engaged in discussions on pertinent issues, amidst rising apprehensions about the consequences of such mass deportations. Pakistan extended a previous deadline for Afghans to exit the country by an additional month, pushing it to 30 April.

At the Torkham border crossing, returnees expressed despair, revealing their lost ties to Afghanistan and uncertainty about their future. Sayed Rahman, a second-generation refugee, expressed his anguish: "I lived my whole life in Pakistan... What am I supposed to do now?” Many families are anxious about their children's futures, particularly for girls over 12 who face restrictions on education in Afghanistan.

Amidst the dusty chaos of the border, returnees are quickly directed to temporary shelters by military trucks. While some receive small financial aid from Taliban authorities upon repatriation, the influx is straining Afghanistan's already-crumbling infrastructure. Bakht Jamal Gohar, the Taliban's head of refugee affairs at the border, acknowledged the challenges posed by such large numbers of returning individuals, many of whom left with nothing.

Despite the difficulties, discussions around too-many restrictions on what Afghans can carry back with them are ongoing, drawing attention from human rights organizations advocating for fair treatment. One man expressed the heartbreaking struggle his family faced, revealing, "My children begged to stay in Pakistan, the country where they were born." As tensions remain high, questions about the welfare of these families linger, with many left to navigate an uncertain future in a homeland they barely know.