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In April 2025, Pakistan’s Afghan repatriation plan ramped up rapidly, forcing more than 100,000 Afghans to leave the country—either under pressure or by force.
The campaign, launched April 1, targeted undocumented individuals and those with invalid Afghan Citizen Cards (ACC). The departure deadline was April 30.
Takeaway: Pakistan’s crackdown has escalated quickly, impacting tens of thousands in just one month.
Arrests and Intimidation Intensify
Pakistan reported 12,948 arrests of Afghan nationals in April alone—surpassing the entire total for 2024.
Rights groups say many faced arbitrary detentions, extortion, and confiscation of personal belongings, despite Islamabad denying any ban on transporting household goods.
Takeaway: A legal deadline turned into mass detentions—raising concerns over due process and rights abuses.
Security Claims vs. Diplomatic Fallout
Pakistani officials blame Afghan nationals for border attacks and internal security threats. Yet, little public evidence supports these claims.
The Taliban government has rejected the accusations and criticized Pakistan’s Afghan repatriation plan as a unilateral move lacking coordination and dignity.
Takeaway: What Islamabad frames as a security issue is also escalating into a diplomatic one.
Return to Uncertainty in Afghanistan
Over 50% of deportees were children. Many had never known life outside Pakistan.
Upon return, Afghans face food shortages, shelter gaps, and Taliban restrictions—especially for women and girls, who face bans on secondary education and most jobs.
Takeaway: For many returnees, the journey back isn’t a return to safety—it’s a descent into instability.
What’s Next?
While ACC holders had to leave by April, Proof of Registration (PoR) cardholders can stay until June 30. Pakistan has stated its intention to repatriate up to 3 million Afghans this year, including 1 million undocumented individuals.
Takeaway: April may be over—but the repatriation push is far from done.
