Pakistan’s mass deportation of undocumented Afghans has crossed 80,000 this month alone, including more than 19,500 forcibly returned since April began, according to the United Nations. The move comes ahead of Islamabad’s revised deadline of April 30 to expel undocumented Afghans, a decision that is fueling tensions with the Taliban government in Kabul and stretching Afghanistan’s already fragile infrastructure.
Thousands of Afghan families are being deported each day—between 700 and 800 according to Taliban officials—with estimates suggesting that up to two million Afghans could be forced out in the coming months.
Pakistan’s Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar visited Kabul over the weekend for talks with Taliban officials, including his counterpart Amir Khan Muttaqi, who expressed “deep concern” over the deportations. While both governments issued statements referring to “mutual interests,” the forced returns have intensified stress on Afghanistan’s border provinces and fueled anger among Afghan citizens.
Many of those being deported have known no other home but Pakistan. Families who fled conflict decades ago now find themselves suddenly uprooted. At the Torkham border crossing, deportees shared stories of displacement and despair. One man, Sayed Rahman, born and raised in Pakistan, said, “I lived my whole life in Pakistan. I got married there. What am I supposed to do now?”
Others worried for their children’s futures, particularly girls, who face severe educational restrictions under Taliban rule. Saleh, a father of three daughters, lamented, “I want my children to study. Everyone has the right to an education.”
The transition back into Afghanistan is proving traumatic. Elderly deportees have been carried across the border on stretchers and beds. Once in Afghanistan, families are herded into temporary shelters, where they await transport to their home provinces. The returnees receive limited financial assistance—between 4,000 and 10,000 Afghanis (£41 to £104)—but it offers little relief in a country with an economy in crisis and a population nearing 45 million.
Hedayatullah Yad Shinwari, part of the Taliban-appointed finance committee at the border, confirmed the financial support, while Bakht Jamal Gohar, head of refugee affairs, acknowledged the overwhelming strain on Afghanistan’s capacity. “These people left decades ago. Some of their homes were destroyed during 20 years of war,” he said.
There are also growing claims of mistreatment by Pakistani officials. Many families reported that they were not allowed to bring personal belongings. A man whose family had temporary residency said, “Now we’ll never go back. Not after how we were treated.”
Pakistan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs has denied any policy that restricts refugees from bringing household goods, but rights organizations have echoed the complaints of returning families.
The expulsion campaign comes as tensions rise along the Pakistan-Afghanistan border, with both sides trading blame for recent clashes. Islamabad has accused militants based in Afghanistan of launching cross-border attacks, a charge the Taliban deny.
Pakistan has long hosted Afghan refugees, taking in more than 3.5 million over decades of conflict. Around 700,000 fled after the Taliban’s 2021 return to power. But now, the Pakistani government says it can no longer sustain the burden amid economic strain and national security concerns.
With the April 30 deadline looming, more families are expected to cross in the coming days—often into uncertainty and loss.
The situation poses not just a humanitarian crisis but a diplomatic test for regional powers. As Islamabad and Kabul attempt to manage fraying ties, millions of displaced Afghans once again face a life of upheaval and survival.
