Afghanistan Peace Campaign
Pakistani authorities have finalized preparations for a new phase of deportations that could see around 20,000 Afghan nationals returned from the northwestern city of Peshawar to Afghanistan, according to a report by The Express Tribune, as Islamabad continues its nationwide campaign against undocumented foreigners.
The Express Tribune reported on Friday, July 10, that authorities in Pakistan’s Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Province have completed preparations for a phased deportation operation targeting Afghan nationals without valid legal documents or with expired residency permits. The newspaper said police, district authorities, and security agencies have finalized operational plans in coordination with the federal government.
According to the report, police and security agencies in Peshawar have prepared lists of Afghan nationals expected to be included in the operation. Federal authorities are also expected to assist provincial officials in carrying out the deportation process.
The newspaper reported that the operation is expected to begin after the conclusion of the ongoing nationwide polio vaccination campaign, although Pakistani authorities have not announced an official start date.
Under the reported plan, Afghan families from different parts of Peshawar will first be transferred to the Nasir Bagh transit center, where officials will complete registration, identity verification, and administrative procedures before transporting them to the Torkham border crossing for return to Afghanistan.
According to The Express Tribune, authorities have collected information on Afghan residents living in several areas of Peshawar, including Afghan Colony, Nasir Bagh, Chamkani, Charsadda Road, Ring Road, and Board Bazaar. Officials have also reportedly compiled a separate list of Afghan nationals employed in markets, factories, workshops, and other commercial establishments as part of the preparations.
Pakistan launched its nationwide campaign to deport undocumented foreign nationals in October 2023, saying the policy is intended to enforce immigration laws, improve border management, and address security concerns. Since then, hundreds of thousands of Afghans have returned or been deported to Afghanistan through the Torkham and Spin Boldak border crossings, according to Pakistani authorities and United Nations agencies.
The deportation campaign has drawn repeated concern from the United Nations, the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR), the International Organization for Migration (IOM), and human rights organizations. They have warned that many Afghans being returned face severe humanitarian conditions, limited access to livelihoods, and potential protection risks, particularly women, girls, journalists, former government employees, and others considered vulnerable under Taliban rule.
Pakistan has hosted one of the world’s largest Afghan refugee populations for more than four decades. Many Afghans fled to Pakistan following the Taliban’s return to power in August 2021, while others remain in the country awaiting resettlement to third countries, including the United States, Canada, Germany, Australia, and other nations.
Humanitarian agencies have urged Pakistan to ensure that any returns are voluntary, safe, and carried out in accordance with international law, particularly for individuals who may have international protection needs. They have also called on the international community to expand resettlement pathways and increase support for Afghans who remain displaced.