Peshawar: Due to fear of arrest or deportation, 16,721 Afghan citizens voluntarily returned to Afghanistan between May 29 and June 11, 2024, according to official data. This trend began even before the federal government’s announcement of the second phase to deport illegal Afghans.
By June 11, 2024, the total number of illegal Afghan nationals who have left Pakistan reached 607,166, according to government data.
Several significant decisions were made during a national-level meeting on this issue a few months ago. In early November, Pakistan's acting Interior Minister announced a strict policy against illegal refugees, stating, “We have data on who is staying illegally in Pakistan. We are going door to door and have done geofencing. We will detain and deport them. We have arrested dozens across the country so far, including in the capital.”
Authorities attribute the deportation decision to concerns about public order, particularly terrorism, and economic issues like dollar smuggling. However, analysts argue that the expulsions are mainly a response to the Afghan Taliban’s reluctance to act against the Pakistani Taliban (TTP), who are accused of terror incidents in Pakistan.
There are two main groups of Afghan refugees in Pakistan. The first group includes those whose families came in 1979 during the Russian invasion. Some are registered, but others are not, and the unregistered ones are being deported. The second group arrived after the Taliban took over Kabul. Some have registered or have visas, but those who haven't are also being sent back.
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18 Apr, 2025
