Attachments
Description of the Event
Date when the trigger was met:
01-04-2025
What happened, where and when?
In early March 2025, the Government of Pakistan issued a directive mandating that all Afghan Citizen Card (ACC) holders must leave the country by 31 March 2025, as part of its ongoing Illegal Foreigners Repatriation Plan (IFRP). This directive has led to intensified enforcement measures, with police deployed in various regions to detain undocumented foreigners and advise them to return to their countries of origin. The urgency of this situation is compounded by the Eid-al-Fitr holidays, which have impacted the timeline for repatriation.
This escalation follows a prior announcement on 3 October 2023, wherein the Government of Pakistan outlined plans to repatriate “illegal foreigners” who did not voluntarily depart by 1 November 2023. A total estimated 2.8 million Afghans are in Pakistan, of whom approximately 1.4 million are unregistered/undocumented. The Pakistani authorities’ actions pose a significant risk to an already fragile community recovering from decades of conflict, recurring disasters, and economic challenges.
Recent reports indicate that the Government of Pakistan has commenced demolishing unauthorized settlements occupied by undocumented foreigners, further heightening fears among Afghan migrants. The repercussions of these actions have sparked a notable surge in returnees. Based on the Pakistan Inter-Agency Contingency Plan, from 1 April 2025, approximately 13,000 returnees will enter through the Torkham border and 7,000 through Spin Boldak, totaling around 20,000 returnees per day.
The main entry points into Afghanistan are in Kandahar (Spin Boldak) and Nangarhar (Torkham) provinces, with neighboring provinces such as Badakhshan, Helmand, Kunar, Khost, Paktika, Paktiya, Nimroz, and Zabul also likely to be affected by the influx. The returnees face arduous journeys that can span several days, exposing them to severe weather conditions, limited access to basic health services, and increased safeguarding and protection risks.
The registration process for returnees, managed by authorities with support from IOM, has become overwhelmed due to the staggering number of individuals arriving at border crossings. This has resulted in delays and prolonged stays in transit centers, complicating the reintegration process for returnees.
As the situation unfolds, the health, safety, and well-being of these returnees—especially vulnerable groups such as women, children, the elderly, and individuals with disabilities—are of paramount concern. The existing pressures on limited humanitarian services and resources are exacerbated by the fact that many humanitarian organizations have scaled down or ceased operations due to funding constraints, particularly following reductions in support from major donors.
Given these pressing humanitarian needs, there is an urgent requirement for comprehensive support, including access to medical care, adequate shelter, and essential supplies. This is critical to address the dire conditions faced by the returnees and to mitigate the humanitarian impact of this large-scale population movement. Coordinated efforts are essential to ensure the safety and well-being of all individuals involved, particularly considering the evolving dynamics of this humanitarian crisis.
Between 1 April and 7 April 2025, a total of 1,825 families, comprising 12,775 individuals, returned to Afghanistan through the formal Torkham and Spin Boldak border crossing points.