Pakistan Mercilessly Removing Its Afghan Refugee Crisis

Over the decades, political instability and conflict in Afghanistan has often been rooted in historical disputes like the Durand Line established in 1893, which Afghanistan has never officially recognized. It is viewed by many in Afghanistan as a colonial imposition that fragmented Pashtun and Baloch communities.

Since Pakistan's inception in 1947, Afghanistan has challenged the legitimacy of the border, contributing to persistent bilateral tensions.

The Soviet invasion of Afghanistan in 1979 marked a turning point, as Pakistan emerged as a key player in the conflict by supporting the Afghan mujahideen with substantial backing from the United States and Saudi Arabia. This period witnessed the first large-scale influx of Afghan refugees into Pakistan, with estimates ranging from three to five million.

Though Pakistan initially welcomed the Afghan refugees, over time, geopolitical tensions, cross-border militancy and domestic security concerns shifted its stance. The situation worsened after the 2014 Army Public School attack in Peshawar, carried out by Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), which Pakistan believed operated from Afghan soil.

This catalyzed a crackdown on Afghan refugees, leading to the forced return of over 365,000 people in 2016. Despite Pakistan's claims of aligning with US anti-terror efforts, it was frequently accused of covertly supporting the Afghan Taliban, straining its relationship with US-backed Afghan governments and further complicating the refugee situation.

While Pakistan later partnered with the International Organization for Migration (IOM) to document and register undocumented Afghan nationals, the refugee crisis remains deeply entangled with broader Afghanistan-Pakistan political and security dynamics.

After the Taliban seized control of Afghanistan in August 2021, millions of Afghans fled the country, with Iran and Pakistan being the primary cross-border destinations. Iran provided refuge to over 1 million new arrivals and Pakistan around 600,000. However, both countries have since implemented restrictive measures, including the deportation of undocumented Afghans.

Several Western countries, including the US, Canada, the UK and Germany, took in tens of thousands of Afghan refugees through emergency evacuations and resettlement programs. The US evacuated over 122,000 people and resettled more than 85,000 Afghans. Canada and the UK aimed to resettle 40,000 and 20,000, respectively, while Greece became a refuge, especially for Afghan women.

Despite these efforts, many refugees still face legal uncertainty and limited access to services. The US Special Immigrant Visa (SIV) program, established in 2009 for Afghans who assisted US missions, became all the more critical after the Taliban's takeover.

However, in January 2025, President Donald Trump suspended refugee resettlement programs, including the SIV process, creating disruption and uncertainty for many approved applicants.

UNHCR data indicates that the majority of Afghan refugees continue to settle in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) and Balochistan due to their geographical proximity to Afghanistan and strong kinship ties. As a result, over 80% of Afghan refugees in Pakistan reside in these two provinces, where they have established various businesses.

The visa process has slowed significantly due to a surge in applications at Pakistan's embassy in Kabul. Security concerns have further complicated the relations between Afghanistan and Pakistan.

Since February 2022, tensions along the Durand Line have intensified, resulting in periodic clashes between Afghan and Pakistani border security forces. The violent clashes at the Torkham crossing in March 2025 between Pakistan's Frontier Corps and Taliban border guards further highlight the ongoing border tensions between Pakistan and Afghanistan.

As diplomatic relations between Islamabad and Kabul continue to decline, Pakistan has imposed additional restrictions on Afghan refugees. By June 2023, the UNHCR reported that 1.33 million Afghan refugees remained in Pakistan, with 52.6% residing in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and 24.1% in Balochistan.

As Islamabad continues its crackdown on Afghan refugees, the future of thousands of displaced individuals remains uncertain. UN experts have consistently criticized Pakistan's Illegal Foreigners Repatriation Plan, introduced in September 2023, which has compelled hundreds of thousands of Afghans to abandon their lives and return to Afghanistan.

As the March 31 deadline approached, the UN reported a troubling rise in arrests of Afghans. Severe hardships, including mass detentions, confiscation of property, destruction of identity documents and allegations of misconduct such as harassment, abuse and bribery, have marked the deportation process of Afghan refugees from Pakistan.

These actions have significantly increased the vulnerabilities faced by Afghan refugees and asylum seekers. Upon deportation, these individuals face substantial challenges in reintegrating into Afghan society, particularly in accessing education and employment, and achieving socio-economic stability.

Sign up for one of our free newsletters

• The Daily Report Start your day right with Asia Times' top stories
• AT Weekly Report A weekly roundup of Asia Times' most-read stories

These difficulties are further exacerbated by the Taliban's restrictive policies on the fundamental human rights of women and girls, as highlighted in Amnesty reports from 2023.

In Pakistan, 49 detention centers have been established to hold Afghan nationals before deportation. However, these facilities were not set up under a specific legal framework, raising concerns about the legality and conditions within these centers. This situation highlights the need for a more humane and legally grounded approach to handling the deportation process.

The UN High Commissioner for Refugees has outlined a significant commitment through the 2024-2025 Regional Refugee Response Plan, aiming to support 4.8 million Afghan refugees and 2.5 million members of their host communities.

This plan is crucial in addressing the pressing needs of Afghan refugees, particularly in light of the challenges they face, including deportations and socio-economic instability. As security concerns, economic strain and humanitarian crises persist, the future of Afghan refugees and Pakistan-Afghanistan relations remains highly uncertain.

Although Pakistan is not a signatory to the 1951 Refugee Convention and lacks a formal legal framework for the protection of refugees, it is still expected to uphold international legal standards in its treatment of displaced individuals.

This includes ensuring that detention practices respect human rights and maintain the dignity of all persons, regardless of their legal status. While Afghanistan's internal instability is primarily driven by its domestic challenges, Pakistan remains a key actor in the region and has a significant role to play in promoting stability.

Moreover, the risk of Afghanistan once again becoming a base for terrorist activities presents a serious concern for the broader international community. As such, addressing the persistent tensions between Pakistan and Afghanistan is not only essential for regional peace but also for global security.

Akanksha Meena is a PhD Scholar at the Centre for Inner Asian Studies, J.N.U.

Sign up here to comment on Asia Times stories Or Sign in to an existing accoun

Thank you for registering!

An account was already registered with this email. Please check your inbox for an authentication link.

• Click to share on X (Opens in new window)
• Click to share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window)
• Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)
• Click to share on WhatsApp (Opens in new window)
• Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window)
• Click to email a link to a friend (Opens in new window)
• Click to print (Opens in new window)