ISLAMABAD/KABUL — Pakistan has intensified its immigration crackdown, targeting Afghan nationals who have illegally obtained Pakistani national identity cards. Authorities have ordered officials from 15 local councils in Peshawar to submit documentation related to Afghan migrants, as the government moves to deport all undocumented foreigners by April 30. Investigations are also underway into Pakistani citizens who fraudulently added Afghan migrants to their family records.
According to Interior Ministry Secretary Talal Chaudhry, legal action will be taken against individuals and institutions found aiding illegal migrants through housing, employment, or services. The government aims to tighten its internal security and documentation system, with deportation numbers already surging. Since April began, over 84,800 Afghans have been expelled, bringing the total number of Afghan returnees to more than 907,000.
Meanwhile, the Taliban-run Ministry of Refugees reports that nearly 800 Afghan families returned from Pakistan and Iran in just the past day. Entry points included Torkham, Spin Boldak, Islam Qala, and the Silk Bridge. These returns are part of a broader pattern, with hundreds of families crossing back into Afghanistan daily due to mounting pressure from neighbouring states.
This mass return is putting immense strain on Afghanistan’s already fragile infrastructure. UNICEF estimates that approximately 600,000 migrants have returned from Pakistan since September 2024, with children accounting for two-thirds of the total. Afghan authorities and humanitarian agencies warn that without increased international support, the country will struggle to provide basic services such as housing, education, and healthcare to the vulnerable returnees.
With the April 30 deadline looming, Pakistan’s policy is expected to further accelerate the pace of deportations, fuelling tensions with Afghanistan and deepening the humanitarian crisis on both sides of the border.
