Sharp Rise in Afghan Expulsions from Pakistan Sparks Humanitarian Crisis

A recent report from the International Organization for Migration (IOM) and the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) highlights a significant 33% increase in the expulsion of Afghan nationals from Pakistan during the first week of February 2026.

Increased Pressure in February: 33% Surge in Expulsions

According to the latest joint report released by UN migration agencies, the situation for Afghan refugees in Pakistan is described as critical. From February 1 to 7, a staggering 2,013 Afghan citizens were detained and forcibly expelled by Pakistani security forces. This figure represents a 33% increase compared to the last week of January, indicating an unprecedented surge in police operations across various provinces in Pakistan.

Fear of Arrest: The Sole Motivation for Return

A particularly shocking aspect of the IOM report focuses on the psychology of returning migrants. Interviews conducted with individuals who have returned to Afghanistan reveal that 99% of respondents explicitly stated that their only reason for leaving their homes in Pakistan was the fear of police detention and violent confrontations.
This data suggest that these returns are, contrary to claims made by Islamabad officials, not voluntary but rather a result of a systematically instilled climate of terror forcing refugees to abandon their homes.

38,000 Individuals Returned in 15 Days: Increased Pressure on Kabul

The trend of returns reported in January was also notably severe. In just the last two weeks of the previous month, over 38,000 individuals crossed into Afghanistan through official borders. This sudden influx of people amid winter has added significant strain on the already limited resources of the current Afghan government and humanitarian organizations. Many of these families are left without shelter and adequate financial support, enduring dire humanitarian conditions in the border provinces. As highlighted in the World Food Programme report, the situation is becoming increasingly desperate.

Legal and Humanitarian Challenges at the Southern Borders

Experts argue that Pakistan’s use of the refugee issue as a political leverage constitutes a blatant violation of international refugee conventions. Given that most of these individuals have lived in Pakistan for years, their abrupt expulsion not only poses a security crisis for Kabul but also creates a humanitarian disaster for families who have left behind all their possessions and only managed to escape with the clothes on their backs. Ongoing diplomatic efforts, such as those by the Afghan Consulate in Karachi, aim to address some of these challenges.