Pakistan has issued a directive ordering all documented Afghan migrants to leave the country by March 31, 2025, or face deportation. Home to more than 2.1 million Afghan refugees—most of whom reside in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province—Pakistan has escalated its crackdown on Afghan migrants, including those with legal documentation. 

According to the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), 1.3 million Afghan refugees in Pakistan are officially registered. However, even those with documentation now face an uncertain future. The Pakistani government has announced plans to expel Afghan Citizen Card (ACC) holders within the next three weeks, stripping hundreds of thousands of their legal status and placing them at risk of forced return.

As an organisation committed to protecting the rights and dignity of refugees, we strongly condemn Pakistan’s decision to forcibly deport documented Afghan migrants, many of whom have no safe place to return. This policy disregards international legal protections for displaced communities and puts thousands of vulnerable individuals at severe risk. We urge governments, international agencies, and human rights organisations to take immediate action to prevent further harm, ensure due process for Afghan refugees, and provide urgent humanitarian support.

Background: Escalating Expulsions Despite Humanitarian Warnings

The directive follows the Afghan Ministry of Refugee and Repatriation Affairs' recent appeal for Pakistan to slow down the expulsion of Afghan nationals. However, Pakistan’s government has proceeded with the removal of Afghan migrants, citing national security concerns.

The latest order specifically targets holders of Afghan Citizen Cards (ACCs), affecting nearly 900,000 Afghan economic migrants who were previously registered under a legal framework allowing them to reside in Pakistan. The government has stated that deportations of these individuals will commence on April 1.

Pakistan launched the Illegal Foreigners Repatriation Program in October 2023 after a surge in violent incidents, which Islamabad attributes to militant groups allegedly operating from Afghanistan. Since then, over 842,000 Afghans have left Pakistan, including more than 40,000 who were forcibly deported, according to data released by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR).

Security Justifications and Political Motivations Behind the Crackdown

Pakistan’s decision is largely driven by security concerns. The country ranks second globally in terrorism impact, as per the recently released Global Terrorism Index. The Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) has emerged as the fastest-growing terrorist organisation, with a dramatic increase in attacks over the past year.

Islamabad has repeatedly accused the Afghan Taliban of harbouring TTP militants, and recent attacks have heightened tensions. The latest order comes just days after a twin suicide bombing at a military compound in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province killed 18 people, including five Pakistani soldiers. Pakistani authorities claimed that Afghan nationals were among the perpetrators, though the Afghan Taliban has denied involvement.

Widespread Arrests and Detentions of Afghan Migrants

Since the beginning of 2025, arrests and detentions of Afghans in Pakistan have escalated, particularly in Islamabad and Rawalpindi. The UNHCR reports a 45-fold increase in arrests compared to the same period in 2024, with more than 2,600 Afghans detained in January and February alone. Most of those arrested were either undocumented migrants or ACC holders.

The Pakistani government has dismissed concerns about mistreatment, stating, “It is emphasised that no one will be maltreated during the repatriation process. Arrangements for food and healthcare for returning foreigners have also been put in place.” However, human rights organisations, including the Joint Action Committee for Refugees, have criticised the authorities, alleging unlawful detentions and violations of court orders protecting refugees.

Impact on Afghans Awaiting U.S. Resettlement

The crackdown particularly affects Afghan migrants who fled their country after the Taliban’s takeover in August 2021 and were awaiting resettlement in third countries, including the United States. The situation has worsened following an executive order by U.S. President Donald Trump suspending the U.S. refugee program. This has left thousands of Afghans stranded in Pakistan with no legal path forward.

An internal Pakistani government directive issued in January 2025 mandates the deportation of Afghans awaiting U.S. resettlement if their cases remain unprocessed by March 31. The directive, reviewed by NPR, explicitly states that "no public announcements shall be made" about the policy. The U.S. State Department has not provided figures on pending Afghan resettlement cases in Pakistan but has confirmed that processing remains slow.

Tensions at the Border: Stranded and in Limbo

The expulsion order comes amid rising tensions at the Torkham border crossing, a crucial passage between Pakistan and Afghanistan, which has remained closed since February 21 due to intense cross-border shelling. The closure has left many Afghans stranded in Pakistan, including those awaiting resettlement in the U.S., leaving them in an uncertain limbo.

Reports from Islamabad describe a growing climate of fear among Afghan migrants, many of whom remain in hiding to avoid detention. Amnesty International and other rights groups have condemned Pakistan’s crackdown, citing reports of night raids, harassment, and arbitrary detentions.

Returning to Crisis: The Dire Conditions Facing Deported Afghans

The refugees being forced to return to Afghanistan face an unstable and deeply precarious situation. The country is grappling with a severe economic crisis, widespread food insecurity, and ongoing human rights violations under Taliban rule. Women and girls, in particular, face extreme restrictions on their education, employment, and basic freedoms, while former government workers, activists, and those with Western ties continue to be at risk of persecution.

Afghanistan’s security situation remains volatile, with frequent attacks by militant groups adding to the instability. For many deported Afghans, returning is not just a setback but a life-threatening ordeal, pushing them further into poverty, repression, and danger.

A Call to Action: The Urgent Need for International Intervention

Pakistan’s latest expulsion order marks a significant escalation in its repatriation policy, extending deportations to documented Afghan migrants who were previously considered legal residents. The decision to expel documented Afghan migrants by March 31, 2025, is a violation of refugee rights with devastating humanitarian consequences.

This policy not only strips thousands of individuals of their legal protections but also forces them into an environment where they face economic hardship, insecurity, and potential persecution. As an organisation dedicated to defending refugee rights, we call on the international community to intervene urgently.

As thousands of Afghans face forced return to a country still grappling with economic instability and security threats, the international community must act swiftly to address the looming humanitarian consequences of this policy shift. Governments must establish immediate pathways to safety for Afghan refugees, international agencies must hold Pakistan accountable for its obligations under international law, and human rights organisations must intensify to expose the injustices unfolding.