Attachments
Context
On 7 March 2025, the Government of Pakistan announced the resumption of the 'Illegal Foreigners Repatriation Plan', initially targeting Afghan Citizenship Card (ACC) holders, who were instructed to leave voluntarily by 31 March or face deportation from 1 April. On 31 July, the Government expanded the plan to also include Afghan refugees holding Proof of Registration (PoR) cards who have been granted one-month grace period ending on 31 August.
Since April, some 840,000 Afghans have returned from Pakistan to Afghanistan, including over 180,000 in September, spme 155,000 in October, and over 200,000 in November. The proportion of PoR cardholders among returnees has steadily increased, rising from 7 per cent in April to over 67% since August.
In November, PoR cardholders account for 57 per cent (114,500) of all returns.
Since 1 April, over 134,300 individuals have been arrested and detained, including PoR cardholders. Since September, 16,200 PoR card holders have been arrested.
As of 29 November 2025, 850,300 Afghans have returned from Pakistan in 2025, bringing the total returns from both Iran and Pakistan to some 2.7 million in 2025.
UNHCR reiterates concern that many Afghans —regardless of status—face serious protection risks in Afghanistan due to the current human rights situation, especially women and girls