UN: Arrests of Afghan nationals in Pakistan surge 146% in a week

Islamabad: Pakistan has seen a significant surge in arrests and detentions of Afghan nationals. According to a new UN report, arrests increased by 146 percent in the week ending November 1. A joint report by the United Nations Refugee Agency (UNHCR) and the International Organization for Migration (IOM) stated that a total of 7,764 Afghan nationals were arrested or detained in various areas of Pakistan during this period. This figure is nearly one and a half times higher than the previous week. Maximum Arrests in Balochistan According to the report, Pakistan's Balochistan province saw the highest number of arrests, accounting for 86 percent of the total. In addition to Balochistan, Chaghi, Attock, and Quetta districts also saw a significant number of Afghan arrests between January and November this year. Documented Afghans Also Targeted Of those apprehended between October 26 and November 1, 77 percent were Afghan Citizen Card (ACC) holders and undocumented Afghan nationals. Refugees holding Proof of Registration (POR) cards made up 23 percent of the total arrests. Returns and Deportations Also Surge According to the report, a sharp increase in the return and deportation of Afghans was also recorded in the last week of October. Notably, there was a 101 percent increase in return and a 131 percent increase in deportations. While 18,630 Afghans returned between October 19 and 25 (of whom 3,341 were forcibly deported), the number increased to 37,448 between October 26 and November 1, of whom 7,733 were deported. The report stated that this increase was primarily due to the reopening of the Chaman border crossing and the reopening of Torkham on November 1. Over 1.66 million Afghans have returned since 2023 According to United Nations data, 1,667,713 Afghan nationals have returned to their country from Pakistan between September 15, 2023, and November 1, 2025. Of those returned between October 26 and November 1, 47% were PoR card holders, 44% were undocumented, and 8% were ACC holders. Of those deported, 93% were completely undocumented. Exodus accelerates after government crackdown The Pakistani government took several strict measures against Afghan refugees this year. In July, the government ordered that PoR card holders whose cards expired on June 30 must leave the country. Later, the government set a deadline of September 1 for all PoR holders to voluntarily leave Pakistan.