The Taliban-led Ministry of Refugees and Repatriations has announced the release and return of 42 Afghan migrants who were previously imprisoned in Pakistan, according to a report by Khaama Press. These migrants, including women and children, were held at Haji Camp prison in Pakistan for two to five months after being arrested in Islamabad for lacking legal documents.
Pakistan’s continued detention and expulsion of Afghan migrants has drawn international criticism from organizations such as Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch, and the United Nations, urging Islamabad to halt these actions.
Mass Expulsions and Humanitarian Crisis
According to the United Nations, by December 31, 2024, 31,000 Afghan migrants had been detained and imprisoned by Pakistan’s security forces. Over the past year, more than 4,268 Afghan migrants, including women and children, have been released from prisons in Sindh province and repatriated to Afghanistan.
The forced deportation of Afghan migrants from Pakistan and Iran has exacerbated the already severe humanitarian crisis in Afghanistan, where millions are struggling to survive amid harsh winter conditions. Deported refugees face extreme weather, poverty, and limited access to basic services, making their survival increasingly difficult.
UNHCR and IOM Express Concerns Over Mass Expulsions
On February 6, the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) and the International Organization for Migration (IOM) raised concerns over Pakistan’s mass expulsion of Afghan refugees. These organizations demanded clarification on Pakistan’s deportation policies, citing an increase in arrests of Afghan nationals in Islamabad and Rawalpindi since January 2025, including those with residence permits.
Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif recently announced a multi-phase plan for the expulsion of Afghan migrants, which includes both legal refugees and those holding residence permits, as well as undocumented migrants and asylum seekers awaiting resettlement in the US and Europe.
Global Human Rights Organizations Call for Urgent Action
Human rights organizations have strongly criticized Pakistan’s actions, urging Islamabad and Tehran to adopt a more humane approach toward refugees. The deportation crisis has left thousands of Afghan returnees vulnerable, as they are forced to go back to a country grappling with economic collapse, food shortages, and ongoing conflict.
With increasing global attention on the crisis, the future of thousands of Afghan refugees remains uncertain as they struggle for survival amid geopolitical tensions and humanitarian challenges.