Pakistan issued a new order asking Afghans living in the country's southwest to leave. This led thousands of Afghans to gather at the Chaman border, according to an AFP report that cited Pakistani officials.

Millions Took Refuge Over Decades

For decades, Afghans have sought shelter in Pakistan to escape ongoing wars in their homeland. The number surged especially after the Taliban regained control of Afghanistan in 2021. Hundreds of thousands crossed into Pakistan after that.

Warnings of Arrests for Those Who Stay

Now, authorities have warned that Afghans who do not leave voluntarily could face arrest. “We have received directives from the home department to launch a fresh drive to repatriate all Afghans… in a respectful and orderly manner,” Mehar Ullah, a senior official in Quetta, told AFP. Quetta, the capital of Balochistan province, borders Afghanistan and shares close cultural and social ties with it.

Thousands Wait at Chaman Crossing

By Friday, between 4,000 and 5,000 Afghans had gathered at the Chaman crossing, hoping to return to Afghanistan, confirmed Habib Bingalzai, a senior government official in Chaman.

On the other side of the border, Afghan officials in Kandahar province also confirmed the rise in returnees. “We have observed an increase in people crossing back into Afghanistan,” said Abdul Latif Hakimi, head of Refugee Registration in Kandahar.

Deportation Drive Began in 2023

This current effort is part of a larger campaign that started in 2023. Pakistan restarted the push in April 2024, after cancelling hundreds of thousands of residence permits for Afghan nationals. So far, over one million Afghans have left Pakistan since the campaign began. More than 200,000 have been forced to leave since April this year alone.

Majority Hold Temporary Papers or Were Born in Pakistan

The deportation drive now targets more than 800,000 Afghans who hold only temporary residence permits. Many of them were born in Pakistan or have lived there for decades.

Security and Economic Concerns Drive Public Support

Pakistan is facing rising security and economic challenges, especially along its border with Afghanistan. As a result, public opinion has turned against hosting a large Afghan population. The deportation campaign enjoys wide support among many Pakistanis.

The Pakistani government often accuses Afghan nationals of being involved in militant attacks. It has labeled them as “terrorists and criminals.” Some analysts say these expulsions are also meant to pressure the Taliban in Kabul to act against militants hiding in the border areas.

Pakistan Faces Multiple Threats

Security forces in Pakistan are under strain. In the southwest, they are fighting Baloch nationalist insurgents, and in the northwest, they are battling the Pakistani Taliban and its allies. In 2024, Pakistan recorded its highest number of deaths from militant attacks in over a decade.

Iran Also Deports Afghans

Pakistan is not the only country expelling Afghans. Iran has deported over 1.5 million Afghans in recent months. Meanwhile, Afghanistan continues to suffer from a serious humanitarian crisis under the Taliban regime. The Taliban enforces strict Islamic laws and has banned most education and jobs for women.