Last updated: July 13, 2026
Pakistan Afghan Deportation 2026 has forced out more than 260,000 people, driving over 2.5 million total returns since 2023 under the ‘Illegal Foreigners’ Repatriation Plan,’ with daily deportations exceeding 10,000 people after a government deadline expired on July 10, 2026.
The United Nations, Human Rights Watch, and Refugees International have all called on Islamabad to halt the campaign, warning that many of those forced back face persecution, imprisonment, or worse under Taliban rule.
Background: Four Decades of Refuge Before the Pakistan Afghan Deportation 2026
Afghan migration to Pakistan began with the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan in 1979, when more than three million people fled across the border. Further waves followed the 2001 US invasion and the Taliban’s return to power in 2021.
The roots of the Pakistan Afghan deportation 2026 crisis trace back to October 2023, when Pakistan announced its deportation plan while an estimated 3.8 to 4.4 million Afghans were living in the country, accounting for the vast majority of its foreign population. Many were born and raised in Pakistan and have never set foot in Afghanistan.
The Illegal Foreigners’ Repatriation Plan (IFRP)
Pakistan’s government launched the IFRP in October 2023, initially targeting undocumented migrants before expanding to include holders of Proof of Registration (PoR) cards and Afghan Citizen Cards (ACCs) documents that had previously granted legal status.
The Ministry of Interior set a fresh deadline of July 10, 2026, ordering all provinces, Azad Kashmir, and Gilgit-Baltistan to begin detaining undocumented Afghans and to file daily reports on arrests and deportations.
Scale of the crisis, by the numbers:
The scale of the Pakistan Afghan deportation 2026 crisis is reflected in the following figures:
- Roughly 2.56 million Afghans have returned to Afghanistan since the campaign began in November 2023, according to United Nations figures.
- Of those, around 260,000 were formally deported by Pakistani immigration authorities for lacking valid documents.
- More than 146,000 Afghans have been deported in 2026 alone, on top of over one million forced returns in 2025.
- Daily returns through the Hamza Baba transit point in Landi Kotal surpassed 10,000 after the July 10 deadline nearly triple the rate seen in May and June, according to Pakistan’s Dawn newspaper.
- An estimated 900,000 Afghan refugees and asylum seekers remain in Pakistan, still at risk of deportation.
- In Peshawar alone, authorities have prepared to expel around 20,000 additional Afghans, with families first processed at the Nasir Bagh transit centre before removal via the Torkham border crossing.
Documented Human Rights Concerns
Arbitrary detention. Reporting from Pakistani and international outlets describes night raids, house-to-house searches, and detentions of Afghans even when they hold valid documentation, with some held at police stations and transit camps before deportation.
Non-refoulement violations. UNHCR and UN human rights experts have repeatedly stressed that returns must be voluntary, safe, and dignified, and that no refugee should be sent back to a country where their life or freedom is at risk a principle rights groups argue the Pakistan Afghan Deportation 2026 campaign is breaching at scale.
Targeting of vulnerable groups. Refugees International has documented specific danger to women and girls, journalists, human rights defenders, and civil society figures facing return to Taliban-controlled Afghanistan, where women’s rights to education, work, and freedom of movement remain heavily restricted.
The organization interviewed a Peshawar-based woman and former journalist whose expired PoR card left her undocumented, and who said return would put her at risk of imprisonment.
Judicial pushback. Not all deportation efforts have gone unchallenged: the Peshawar High Court ordered a 60-day halt to the deportation of roughly 140 Afghan families in July 2026, pending review of their asylum claims, after petitioners including former judges, prosecutors, and journalists registered with UNHCR argued that removal would derail active third-country resettlement cases.
Pakistan’s Stated Rationale
Pakistani officials attribute the deportation drive to security concerns, citing a rise in suicide bombings and attacks they link to militant groups operating from Afghan soil, including the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP).
Islamabad has also carried out air strikes in Afghan territory in 2026 amid deteriorating relations with the Taliban government, which Pakistan accuses of sheltering militants a claim the Taliban denies. Independent conflict trackers note that 2025 was Pakistan’s deadliest year in over a decade for conflict-related deaths.
International Response
- UNHCR has thanked Pakistan for hosting Afghan refugees for decades but has urged that returns be voluntary and dignified, and has called for exemptions for those with international protection needs, including female heads of household, students, minorities, and civil society figures.
- UN Committee against Torture has flagged coercive measures used in the campaign and the risk of persecution facing returnees.
- Human Rights Watch has said the mass deportations may breach Pakistan’s obligations under international law.
- Refugees International has called on Pakistan to immediately halt deportations and reinstate visa and PoR card renewals for the roughly 1.3 million Afghans who lost documented status when renewals stopped.
Recommendations
Finn Right Human Rights Commission calls on:
In response to the Pakistan Afghan deportation 2026 crisis, Finn Right Human Rights Commission calls on:
The Government of Pakistan to halt forced deportations of PoR and ACC holders, uphold the principle of non-refoulement, exempt individuals with protection needs, and ensure judicial review is respected for pending asylum and resettlement cases.
The international community to increase pressure on Pakistan to meet its obligations under refugee and human rights law, and to expand resettlement pathways for at-risk Afghans.
UN bodies to continue monitoring and documenting violations, and to consider accountability measures where forced returns place lives at direct risk.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many Afghans have been deported from Pakistan since 2023?
Around 2.56 million Afghans have returned to Afghanistan since the campaign began in late 2023, with roughly 260,000 of those formally deported by immigration authorities; more than 146,000 were deported in 2026 alone.
Why is Pakistan deporting Afghan refugees?
Pakistani officials cite rising militant attacks they attribute to groups operating from Afghan territory. Rights groups argue the campaign disproportionately harms long-settled refugees, including PoR and ACC holders who previously held legal status.
Who is most at risk from the deportations?
Women and girls, journalists, human rights defenders, civil society activists, and ethnic and religious minorities face heightened danger if returned to Taliban-controlled Afghanistan, according to UNHCR and Refugees International.
Has any court intervened to stop deportations?
Yes. In July 2026, the Peshawar High Court ordered a 60-day halt to the deportation of around 140 Afghan families pending review of their asylum and resettlement claims.
What is the principle of non-refoulement?
It is a core rule of international refugee law that prohibits returning individuals to a country where they face a real risk of persecution, torture, or serious harm.
Take Action
Finn Right Human Rights Commission is tracking this crisis and calling for an immediate halt to unlawful deportations. Join our campaign, share verified reporting, or become a member to support ongoing human rights monitoring in the region.
As 2.5 million Afghan refugees are forced back across the border, millions of women and girls are being returned directly into the trap of the Taliban’s brutal new legal decrees.