Pakistan’s Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Demolishes Afghan Migrants’ Homes Amid Crackdown

In a further escalation of pressure on Afghan migrants, authorities in Pakistan’s Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province have ordered the demolition of homes belonging to several Afghan migrants. This move coincides with a widespread detention campaign targeting individuals without visas that began on July 10. Reports indicate that throughout July, many homes in the Mattani area were demolished, forcing residents to abandon their homes.

According to the French news agency AFP, this process has included identity document verification, eviction notices, and the implementation of a migrant repatriation scheme. A senior police officer in Peshawar, speaking anonymously, stated that an extensive crackdown on undocumented Afghan nationals started on July 10 and continues. He added that the police had completed the identification and mapping of migrants across the province even before official federal government directives were issued.

Security measures have also intensified within the city of Peshawar. An AFP reporter documented the establishment of temporary checkpoints across various parts of the city where pedestrians’ identity documents are being checked. One officer confirmed they have received specific instructions to arrest undocumented Afghan nationals.

At Peshawar’s famous “Mini Kabul” market, where thousands of shops are operated by Afghans, traders report a sharp decline in customers. One shopkeeper said many people are staying indoors out of fear of arrest, causing commercial activities to almost come to a halt.

In June, Pakistan’s Ministry of Interior instructed police forces to begin arresting Afghan nationals without visas starting July 10. Islamabad describes these measures as part of its security plan and alleges that some Afghan nationals have been involved in attacks—a claim that has continually raised concerns among migrants and human rights organizations.

In contrast, the Taliban administration has denied that militant groups use Afghan territory to target Pakistan and stated that this year’s Pakistani airstrikes have resulted in civilian casualties.

According to United Nations statistics, since 2023, 2.3 million people have been returned from Pakistan to Afghanistan. Meanwhile, over one million Afghan migrants continue to live in Pakistan, facing an uncertain and worrying future.