Pakistan has deported more than 860,000 Afghan refugees since September 2023, with most returning through the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, according to recent data from the International Organization for Migration.
More than half of those deported crossed into Afghanistan via Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Afghan news agency Khaama Press reported on Sunday. Pakistani authorities and international organizations have been closely monitoring the mass return of Afghan migrants.
The deportation process occurred in two main phases. The first phase, which targeted unregistered Afghan migrants, involved forced deportations.
According to Pakistan’s Dawn newspaper, the second phase began in early 2025 and impacted Afghan citizens holding Afghan Citizen Cards. These individuals were given a deadline to leave Pakistan by April 1, 2025.
The ongoing forced and voluntary return of Afghan refugees presents major challenges for both Pakistan and Afghanistan.
The large-scale repatriation efforts highlight the delicate balance between national security concerns, humanitarian obligations, and the socio-economic reintegration of returnees into Afghan society.
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