Pakistani police conducted an enforcement operation in Lahore, detaining 121 Afghan nationals. Of these, 28 individuals with valid residency documents were released, while the remaining 93 were taken to a holding center in Lahore, as reported by Khaama Press. This operation is part of a broader nationwide campaign by Pakistan, which has been detaining and deporting hundreds of thousands of Afghans since late 2023.
The enforcement action was intensified following the expiration of the deadline for undocumented Afghans to return earlier this month. The Taliban administration reported that 3,753 Afghans crossed multiple border points on Friday. However, the exact number of deportations from Pakistan or voluntary returns, including from other neighboring countries, was not specified.
According to the International Organization for Migration (IOM) and UN agencies, the continuous influx of Afghans is straining humanitarian services in Afghanistan. The situation is exacerbating existing challenges such as food insecurity, unemployment, and limited access to healthcare and public services in the country, noted Khama Press.
Amu TV highlighted that Pakistani authorities are not only targeting undocumented migrants but also detaining Afghans whose visas or Afghan Citizen Cards (ACC) have expired. The campaign is reportedly active in various regions including Punjab, Sindh, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Balochistan, Gilgit-Baltistan, and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir, according to Amu TV’s report.
An Afghan journalist in Pakistan raised concerns, emphasizing that many Afghans who sought refuge in Pakistan post-2021 are at risk if returned to Afghanistan. Describing them as refugees rather than ordinary migrants, she warned that sending them back could endanger their lives, as highlighted by Amu TV’s report.
Pakistan has faced warnings from the United Nations and international human rights organizations to cease forced deportations. The concern is that returning Afghans may encounter persecution, arbitrary detention, torture, or reprisals upon their return.
