Deportation of unregistered Afghans continues amid crackdown

A more intensified crackdown likely after April 11

STATE OF THE NATION

April 8, 2025 

NEARLY 1,000 undocumented Afghan families have been deported from the country so far, as the repatriation of Afghan refugees is continuing apace following expiry of the government’s voluntary return deadline.

According to immigration officials, at least 6,700 refugees were first moved to the Landi Kotal transit camp for processing before being repatriated via the Torkham border crossing. Among the deportees were 2,874 men, 1,755 women, and 2,071 children.

The ongoing repatriation drive, which began on September 17, 2023, has so far seen a total of 70,494 families — representing 469,159 individuals — return to Afghanistan.

In tandem with deportations, a police crackdown is underway in Rawalpindi, targeting undocumented Afghan nationals. Since the start of April, at least 353 individuals have been detained for lacking valid residence documents, such as Proof of Registration (PoR) or valid Afghan Citizen Cards (ACC). Authorities say the focus remains on those with expired credentials or no documentation at all.

Enhanced security has been enforced at the Golra Mor holding centre, where detained Afghan nationals are being processed prior to deportation. Officials confirm that further operations are planned in the coming days.

Earlier, law enforcement personnel intensified efforts across several urban centres to repatriate Afghan nationals, particularly ACC holders, following the end of the voluntary return period. Afghan-owned businesses, especially in Peshawar, remained shuttered after Eid, as fears of arrest and deportation mounted.

As part of a nationwide re-verification drive, dozens of Afghan nationals had their Pakistani-issued identity cards revoked. A larger crackdown is expected after April 11, with arrests likely to ramp up.

In Rawalpindi alone, over 50 ACC holders were detained and transferred to temporary camps ahead of deportation. In Karachi, a similar operation led to the detention of 162 ACC holders, who were taken to a holding facility.

Authorities estimate that around 16,138 individuals across the country are being targeted under the current operation. Some PoR cardholders have been released after verification, but daily raids continue as part of the government’s enforcement of its deportation policy.