With the increasing arrests and deportations of Afghan refugees in Pakistan, many have once again urged the Pakistani government to halt this process.

Refugees report that for the past 40 days, police have intensified their crackdown, subjecting even women and children to harassment and abuse.

Malik Mujahid Shinwari, an Afghan refugee in Pakistan, told TOLOnews: "Hundreds of thousands of Afghan refugees in Pakistan are homeless and suffering, but no one pays attention to their situation."

Nazar, another Afghan refugee in Pakistan, said: "Afghans who are relocated or whose visas have expired are being detained and mistreated by the police."

At the same time, the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) reported that in January 2025 alone, more than 18,000 Afghan refugees returned from Pakistan to Afghanistan.

The UNHCR report also states that since September 15, 2023, over 825,000 Afghan refugees have returned from Pakistan to their home country.
Mohammad Khan Mohammadzai, a migrant rights activist, told TOLOnews: "The forced expulsion of Afghan refugees from Pakistan has intensified, and reports indicate that Pakistani authorities are using violence to force some migrants to leave."

Meanwhile, Afghan refugees in Iran and Turkey have also raised concerns about the difficulties they face in those countries.

Enayatullah Alokozai, an Afghan refugee in Iran, said: "Afghan refugees in Iran have repeatedly protested against mistreatment by the police, but unfortunately, their voices have not been heard, and their problems remain unresolved."

However, Afghanistan’s Ministry of Refugees and Repatriations reports lower numbers of returning migrants for January. According to the ministry, over 12,600 refugees returned from Iran, Pakistan, and Turkey in that month.

Abdul Mutalib Haqqani, the ministry’s spokesperson, stated: "Among them, 330 refugees returned from Turkey, 575 families from Pakistan, and 2,183 families from Iran."

Previously, the UNHCR and the International Organization for Migration (IOM) urged Pakistan to respect international human rights laws and treat Afghan refugees with dignity.