In a refugee settlement on the outskirts of Karachi, Pakistan, Afghan families gathered on Sunday to observe the festival of Eid al-Fitr with a sense of apprehension. On Monday, thousands of Afghans who have lived in Pakistan for generations face a deportation deadline and an uncertain future.
Since the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan in 1979, millions of Afghans have sought refuge in Pakistan, fleeing violence and instability. While many have returned home over the decades, ongoing conflict continues to displace hundreds of thousands.
The latest wave of displacement followed the Taliban’s takeover of Afghanistan in August 2021, which resulted in the collapse of the U.S.-backed government. Many refugees were promised resettlement in the United States but now face mandatory repatriation, with a deadline of March 31 announced just last month, causing widespread fear.
Community leader Haji Abdullah Bukhari expressed concern, stating, “As a fellow Muslim nation and a neighbor, Pakistan should show compassion and grant refugees more time to prepare.” He emphasized the difficulty of uprooting lives after decades in Pakistan.
Pakistan's deportation of Afghan refugees is driven by frustration with the Taliban administration, which is accused of harboring militants responsible for attacks in Pakistan. Although the Taliban deny these allegations, tensions remain high.
In 2023, Pakistan expelled hundreds of thousands of Afghans, both documented and undocumented. However, many awaiting resettlement in Western countries were spared due to diplomatic interventions. Their situation became precarious in January when an executive order suspended all refugee admissions to the United States, leaving many Afghans stranded.
In February, Pakistan announced plans to repatriate Afghan nationals awaiting resettlement by March 31, including 800,000 holders of Pakistan-issued Afghan Citizenship Cards and undocumented migrants. This decision has raised concerns, particularly for those vulnerable to Taliban persecution, such as former government officials and women’s rights activists.
Moniza Kakar, a lawyer with the Joint Action Committee for Refugees, noted that many Afghans fear prison, torture, or execution if forcibly returned to Afghanistan. Avaaz, a global campaign advocating for humanitarian visas for Afghan women’s rights activists, has also expressed deep concern over the deportation drive.
Among those affected is Samia Hamza, a women’s rights activist who fled to Pakistan after protesting against the Taliban's ban on girls’ education. She has faced discrimination and economic hardship while awaiting U.S. resettlement. Hamza expressed her despair over the lack of updates on her case since the Trump administration's decision to halt new immigrant admissions.
The Pakistani government has ruled out extending the deportation deadline despite appeals from international organizations. The government has justified its actions by drawing parallels to deportation efforts in the United States and Europe.
Philippa Candler, the Pakistan representative for the U.N. refugee agency, urged for voluntary and safe returns, stating that forced returns are unsustainable and detrimental. Many Afghans recall the traumatic scenes of past expulsions and fear the arrival of police to forcibly deport them.
Naik Bakht, an Afghan refugee in Karachi since 1996, expressed his fears for his children’s future, stating, “I am terrified. What will we do in Afghanistan? Where will we go? How will we survive?”