Pakistan Expels Over 146,000 Afghan Migrants Amid Rising Border Clashes

Human Rights Watch has reported a significant increase in Pakistan’s arbitrary detentions and forced expulsions of Afghan migrants, a move that has escalated following border clashes between Pakistani forces and the Taliban administration. According to the report, more than 146,000 Afghans were expelled from Pakistan in 2026 alone.

The report details that Pakistani police have subjected thousands of vulnerable refugees, including children, to severe restrictions in accessing healthcare, education, and other essential services. It also states that some migrants have been detained even while performing daily activities such as shopping, going to school, or seeking employment, with their mobile phones and cash seized.

Farashta Abbasi, an Afghanistan researcher at Human Rights Watch, emphasized that “Pakistan must act against the abusive conduct of its police and immediately halt the forced returns of Afghan refugees.” She added that Pakistani authorities’ approach has fostered an atmosphere of fear and mistrust among migrants.

The report further reveals that Pakistani police have detained even holders of valid visas and, in some cases, demanded bribes in exchange for their release, despite many migrants’ inability to pay such sums. Since 2023, Pakistan has also ceased renewing Proof of Registration (PoR) cards and other residency documents for Afghans.

Human Rights Watch has warned that among those detained and expelled are journalists, human rights defenders, and activists who face serious risks if returned to Afghanistan due to their work history or criticism of the Taliban administration. Citing Reporters Without Borders, the organization noted that at least nine Afghan journalists, some with valid visas, have been forcibly returned to Afghanistan since early 2026.

The organization stressed that forced returns may violate Pakistan’s obligations under the United Nations Convention Against Torture and the principle of non-refoulement under international law, which prohibits transferring individuals to places where they face risks of torture, ill-treatment, or life-threatening situations.

Human Rights Watch has called on the Pakistani government to immediately halt the forced deportation of Afghan migrants. It also urged other countries to raise their concerns with Islamabad over these actions while condemning the Taliban’s ongoing human rights violations in Afghanistan.