Pakistan Begins Deportation of 1.7 Million Afghan Migrants Amid Global Criticism

Facing a rise in attacks, Pakistan has initiated a crackdown on undocumented immigrants, resulting in a mass exodus of Afghan migrants who already fled violence in their homeland; critics warn of a humanitarian crisis in Afghanistan amid the sudden influx and raise questions about potential risks those returned might face.

The Pakistan government has set a November 1st deadline for all undocumented immigrants, notably Afghan migrants, to leave voluntarily or face arrest and deportation. This follows a rise in attacks which the government blames on groups operating from Afghanistan.
Pakistan plans to begin arrest and deportation of illegal immigrants from November 2, with staggered deportations beginning from that day. Those who refuse to leave voluntarily before the deadline will be taken to newly erected holding centres where they will be processed before being forcibly returned to Afghanistan.
The deportation campaign has drawn widespread criticism from UN agencies, rights groups and the Taliban itself. Critics warn that the sudden influx of returnees could lead to a humanitarian crisis in Afghanistan. They also raise concerns about potential risks those returned might face, including significant security risks such as threats to their lives and wellbeing.
More than 200,000 Afghan migrants have already left Pakistan since the start of October when the government announced the one-month expulsion deadline. The scale of the crackdown is said to be unprecedented and activists and lawyers have appealed for more time for Afghans to relocate with dignity.
Despite the criticism, Pakistan has insisted that the deportations are necessary to protect the country’s “welfare and security”. It has declared that it will accommodate the leaving migrants in temporary centres where they will be provided with food and health facilities for a few days.