ISLAMABAD, Pakistan — The Pakistani government on Thursday began the second phase of its nationwide campaign to deport Afghan migrants, local media reported, ending the grace period for voluntary departure that was extended until after the Eid al-Fitr holiday.
The deadline for Afghan Citizen Card (ACC) holders and undocumented Afghan nationals to leave the country had initially been set for March 31. Officials later extended it to April 2 due to Eid celebrations. With the extension now over, authorities have resumed deportations across key regions, particularly in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, where the first phase of removals began in late 2023.
“We have established new holding camps in Landi Kotal and Nasir Bagh to facilitate the process,” a senior Pakistani commissioner for Afghan refugees in Peshawar told the Dawn newspaper.
The renewed effort follows months of criticism from international rights organizations and humanitarian groups, who have urged Pakistan to halt mass deportations and respect international legal obligations. The United Nations has warned that among those being deported are individuals potentially in need of international protection.
Qaiser Khan Afridi, spokesperson for the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), expressed concern, saying, “We urge the government of Pakistan to adopt a humanitarian lens when reviewing the status of these individuals and ensure that returns are dignified and voluntary.”
According to official data, since September 2023, more than 69,000 Afghan families—comprising nearly 473,000 individuals—have been expelled from Pakistan. The breakdown includes over 157,000 men, 111,000 women and nearly 188,000 children.
Despite international pressure, the Pakistani government has signaled no intention to reverse its policy, which now includes the deportation of ACC holders—some of whom were previously considered semi-documented.
Local and international rights groups have condemned the expulsions as coercive and in violation of refugee protections under international law. Afghan migrants, many of whom have lived in Pakistan for decades, say they fear persecution, insecurity and economic collapse under Taliban rule if forced to return.
The UN has also called for more constructive engagement between Islamabad and Kabul to ensure that any returns are safe, voluntary, and conducted in accordance with international standards.
