Islamabad: Pakistan has issued a new directive on Friday, urging Afghans living in the southwest to leave the country, sparking a mass movement of people towards the border.
The repatriation effort, which was first initiated in 2023, has intensified with the government renewing its deportation campaign and rescinding residence permits for hundreds of thousands of Afghan nationals.
Senior officials reported that there were “around 4,000 to 5,000” people gathered at the Chaman border, anxiously waiting to cross into Afghanistan.
The government has emphasized that the repatriation should be done in an orderly and respectful manner, ensuring the safety and dignity of those returning.
The latest call for Afghans to leave is part of a broader initiative that targets more than 800,000 Afghans living in Pakistan with temporary residence permits.
These individuals, some of whom have lived in Pakistan for decades or were born here, are now being asked to return to Afghanistan.
The move comes after Pakistan recorded an increase in violent attacks, with the government often accusing Afghan nationals of involvement.
This fresh push follows a similar deportation campaign that began in 2023. Pakistan warned Afghan nationals to leave or face the risk of arrests.
Since April 2025 alone, more than 200,000 Afghans have left Pakistan, bringing the total number of deported individuals since 2023 to over one million.
Regional Deportation Movements
Pakistan is not alone in its efforts to repatriate Afghan nationals. Neighboring Iran has also conducted a large-scale deportation operation, sending over 1.5 million Afghans back to their home country in recent years.
Both countries have faced challenges with Afghan migration, citing security concerns and economic strain as key factors behind the deportation drives.
The ongoing repatriation efforts come amid rising tensions and concerns over security, especially in border areas.
Afghan authorities in Kandahar province have reported an increase in the number of returning refugees as a result of these actions.
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