Over the past month, an overwhelming number of Afghan nationals, exceeding 165,000, have sought refuge beyond Pakistan’s borders. This surge in departures follows the Pakistani government’s directive instructing undocumented Afghan immigrants to vacate the country or face the prospects of arrest and deportation.
A majority of these individuals hurriedly converged at the border regions, driven by the impending November 1 deadline, while Pakistani authorities initiated the establishment of multiple “holding centers” to detain those found in violation of immigration regulations.
On the Afghan side of the border, authorities have been grappling with the sheer scale of this exodus. They face the challenging task of accommodating the returning Afghan nationals, a significant portion of whom are setting foot in Afghanistan for the very first time in their lives.
Khalil Haqqani, the Refugees Minister in the Taliban government, has been in constant communication with Pakistani authorities, appealing for more time to facilitate the dignified return of these Afghan nationals. He stressed the importance of treating Afghans with respect and avoiding actions that could further antagonize them.
In response to the burgeoning crisis, the Taliban government set up temporary processing centers several kilometers away from border crossings, along with provisions for families who found themselves displaced. These measures were adopted in response to a bottleneck situation at the border, which escalated into an “emergency situation” affecting thousands of stranded individuals.
Simultaneously, Pakistani authorities have intensified their immigration crackdown. They apprehended hundreds of undocumented Afghan nationals on Thursday, pledging to maintain their stringent stance on immigration. The authorities have also been encouraging undocumented Afghans to voluntarily return to their home country.
The Torkham border crossing in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa witnessed an arduous operation well into the early hours of Thursday to clear a queue of 28,000 individuals, stretching over seven kilometers. As per the provincial home department, slightly over 129,000 Afghan nationals fled from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, while 38,100 crossed into Afghanistan through Chaman in Balochistan.
This recent mass exodus adds to the millions of Afghans who have sought refuge in Pakistan over the years, escaping the turmoil of violent conflicts. It is estimated that approximately 600,000 Afghan nationals have entered Pakistan since the Taliban government seized power in August 2021.
Pakistan’s decision to enforce deportations has been justified on the grounds of safeguarding the nation’s “welfare and security,” particularly following a notable upsurge in attacks that the government attributes to militants operating from Afghan territory.
Notably, a substantial police operation in Karachi resulted in the detention of more than 100 individuals, with a further 425 Afghans apprehended in Quetta. The immigration crackdown has been reinforced, and as Saad Bin Asad, the Deputy Commissioner of Quetta, stated, “The campaign against illegal immigrants will continue.”
The Torkham border crossing witnessed a staggering influx, with over 24,000 Afghan nationals crossing into Afghanistan on a single day. Authorities worked relentlessly throughout the night to streamline clearance processes. Typically, this border situated at the northwestern end of the Khyber Pass, a vital route between Peshawar and Afghanistan’s Jalalabad, is closed after sundown.
In accordance with the Pakistani government’s directive, 128,000 Afghan nationals have departed through the border crossing, marking a significant exodus from the country.
