More Than 43,000 Afghans Forcibly Expelled From Pakistan in Second Quarter, IOM Says

The International Organization for Migration says 439,000 Afghan nationals returned from Pakistan in the second quarter of this year, including more than 43,000 who were forcibly expelled.

According to the agency, fear of arrest was the main reason many returnees left Pakistan. Based on its findings, 97% of those it interviewed said fear of detention was the main reason for their departure.

At the same time, some Afghan migrants in Pakistan say persistent concern about arrest and deportation has made daily life difficult for them. They say the situation has created a widespread atmosphere of uncertainty among migrant families.

The report comes as the arrest and deportation of Afghan migrants from Pakistan continues amid rising tensions between the Taliban administration and Islamabad. The International Organization for Migration is a United Nations-affiliated body that monitors migration and displacement in different countries.