The International Organization for Migration (IOM) disclosed on Monday that more than 500,000 Afghans have left Pakistan in the past four months. This exodus follows Islamabad’s directive for undocumented migrants to either regularize their status or face legal consequences.
According to the UN migration agency’s latest figures, a total of 500,200 Afghans have exited Pakistan between September 15, 2023, and January 13, 2024. The majority of these departures occurred around the November 1 deadline set by Islamabad for the estimated 1.7 million Afghans it claimed were residing illegally within its borders. This period also saw increased police activity, including the establishment of numerous holding centers.
The IOM noted that while the numbers have decreased since the initial surge around November 1, crossings at official border points remain higher than the rates observed before September 15.
Pakistan has justified its actions citing security concerns in regions adjacent to Afghanistan and the strain on its economy. However, the UN’s Afghan mission raised concerns in a recent report, suggesting that some returning Afghans might face risks such as persecution, arbitrary arrest, detention, or other forms of ill-treatment.
Meanwhile, the main border crossing between Pakistan and Afghanistan has been closed for ten consecutive days due to disagreements over documentation requirements for commercial drivers. The dispute revolves around the need for visas and passports, documents that many Afghans lack, as part of Pakistan’s efforts to regulate cross-border movement. As a result, over 400 trucks were reportedly stranded at the Torkham crossing.
The relationship between Pakistan and Afghanistan has been tense, with Islamabad accusing the Taliban government of not sufficiently addressing militants conducting attacks in Pakistan from Afghan territory, an allegation Kabul denies.
For decades, millions of Afghans fleeing conflict have sought refuge in Pakistan. This includes about 600,000 who migrated following the Taliban’s takeover and the establishment of their regime, known for its strict interpretation of Islamic law.
The recent wave of Afghans leaving Pakistan includes many who, despite having lived their entire lives in Pakistan, are entering Afghanistan for the first time. On arrival, these migrants are receiving limited assistance from the government and NGOs in a country already grappling with a severe humanitarian crisis.
