Pakistan has underscored the critical necessity of repatriating Afghan refugees, citing mounting terrorism, organized crime, and illegal activities linked to non-national residents. While Amnesty International recently criticized Pakistan’s repatriation policy as “inhumane” and urged halting returns, its report fails to recognize the grave security challenges Pakistan continues to face.
For more than 40 years, Pakistan has provided shelter to nearly four million Afghan refugees, making extraordinary economic, social, and humanitarian sacrifices. Yet, despite these efforts, the country has been repeatedly exposed to cross-border terrorism, narcotics smuggling, arms trafficking, and other criminal activities linked to Afghan nationals.
In response to these persistent threats, the Government of Pakistan launched a policy in 2023 to repatriate illegal Afghan residents. Director-General ISPR, Lieutenant General Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry, stated in a press briefing on November 25, 2025, that 1,873 terrorists were neutralized in Pakistan this year, including 136 Afghan nationals, reflecting the success of Pakistan’s robust counter-terrorism operations.
He further warned that over $7.2 billion in weapons abandoned during the U.S. and NATO withdrawal from Afghanistan are currently fueling terrorism in the region. Terrorist leadership and operational hubs remain entrenched inside Afghanistan, exacerbating the threat to Pakistan’s security.The security implications of Afghan refugee presence have been profound. Following the 2023 repatriation decision, terrorist attacks in Pakistan surged sharply. The Global Terrorism Index 2025 reported 1,099 attacks in 2024, more than double the 517 incidents in 2023. Fatalities rose by 45% to 1,081.
Data from the Pakistan Institute for Peace Studies (PIPS) shows that 521 attacks in 2024 resulted in 852 deaths and 1,092 injuries, including 358 security personnel. Similarly, the Center for Research and Security Studies (CRSS) recorded 1,188 violent incidents in the first 11 months of 2025, claiming 3,187 lives, predominantly in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan. Notably, terrorism in the first quarter of 2025 increased by 81% compared to the previous year.
Estimates indicate that approximately 250,000 Afghan nationals hold fraudulent Pakistani identity documents, with the highest concentrations in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. This issue, experts warn, is facilitated by systemic governance gaps and political patronage. Presently, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa hosts 353,140 Afghan refugees across multiple districts, including Peshawar (40,324), Nowshera (40,806), Kohat (58,089), and Haripur (62,402).
Beyond terrorism, Afghan nationals have been implicated in smuggling, narcotics, street crimes, and other illicit activities, further destabilizing law and order. Extremist entities such as Fatah al-Khawarij operate freely, while the Afghan Taliban have failed to act against them. Pakistan maintains that these groups enjoy protection and support from elements within Afghanistan, undermining regional peace.
The Pakistani government insists that Afghan territory must not serve as a base for anti-Pakistan operations. Safeguarding national security, upholding the rule of law, and protecting citizens remain top priorities. Accordingly, authorities emphasize the urgent need for immediate and effective repatriation of Afghan nationals.
This position enjoys broad support across Pakistan’s political spectrum and among the public, who recognize the imperative of addressing the social, legal, and security challenges posed by prolonged Afghan refugee presence. Pakistan asserts that timely repatriation is essential to restore stability, protect its citizens, and preserve national sovereignty.
