Afghan Refugees Return Home as Pakistan's Ultimatum Approaches Final Day

An Afghan family aboard a truck awaits registration at a UNHCR voluntary repatriation center in Peshawar, Pakistan, on November 6, 2023. United Nations agencies have noted a significant increase in Afghans returning to their homeland following Pakistan's crackdown on individuals residing in the country without legal permission. Earlier in the month, Pakistan announced its intention to detain and deport undocumented or unregistered foreigners after October 31. As the deadline for undocumented immigrants to leave Pakistan approaches midnight, the country is gearing up to enforce its expulsion policy. This directive is poised to predominantly impact the millions of Afghan refugees who have sought safety from the ongoing armed conflict and the resurgence of Taliban control in their country. The announcement of the October 31 deadline by Pakistani authorities earlier in the month has triggered a substantial migratory movement across the permeable border between Pakistan and Afghanistan. Current statistics indicate that there are approximately 4.4 million Afghan refugees in Pakistan, out of which around 1.7 million are unregistered.