After more than two years since Pakistan initiated a stern policy against Afghan nationals, a senior provincial official has confirmed that almost 40,000 individuals have now departed Quetta, the capital of Balochistan.
The government’s directive, first issued in October 2023, called for all foreign nationals, including undocumented Afghan immigrants, to either leave voluntarily or face deportation. This deadline has since been extended multiple times.
Pakistan is currently home to over 1.7 million registered Afghan refugees, alongside a substantial number of undocumented individuals. The latest repatriation drive, fueled by concerns over national security and economic stability, has spurred thousands to make the journey back to Afghanistan.
To accelerate these measures, authorities have moved to shut down approximately 54 Afghan refugee camps across the country.
Mir Ullah Badhani, the Quetta Commissioner, noted that many of those returning had established lives over 35 to 40 years in areas like Afghan Basti (also known as Qadirabad) on Quetta’s Eastern bypass, building homes and businesses.
Feroze Shah, a resident of Qadirabad, lamented the situation, explaining that the community largely comprised impoverished individuals now forced to leave their long-term residences, facing an uncertain future in Afghanistan with meager possessions. “Over the past two years, hundreds of thousands of Afghan refugees, including some of our relatives and tribespeople, have been expelled from various parts of Pakistan,” he stated.
“The exodus is increasing now, ahead of the Afghan winter, as people are keen to cross over and settle before the coldest months arrive,” he added.
The Commissioner also mentioned that the rate of refugees crossing into Afghanistan via the Chaman border has recently slowed due to ongoing tensions between Pakistan and Afghanistan. Despite this, hundreds of Afghan refugees are still gathered in camps near the Chaman border, awaiting their turn to enter Afghanistan. Badhani confirmed that nearly 40,000 Afghans have already made their way across this border.
Pakistan has been a host to millions of Afghan refugees since the 1979 Soviet invasion of Afghanistan. However, the current strict measures began in October 2023. Following the Taliban’s takeover in Kabul in 2021, an additional 700,000 Afghans sought refuge in Pakistan.
Data from the United Nations Refugee Agency reveals that between October 2023 and October 2025, a staggering 1.5 million Afghans were either voluntarily repatriated or forcibly deported from Pakistan.
A significant challenge for these Afghan refugees, particularly those who built successful lives and properties in Pakistan, is being compelled to sell their homes and businesses in Quetta at drastically reduced prices.