Attachments
INTRODUCTION
In response to the Ministry of Interior's (MoI) decision of 26 September 2023 to enact an “Illegal Foreigners' Repatriation Plan”, UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency and IOM, the UN Migration Agency, have collated their data on the arrest, detention, and deportation of Proof of Registration (PoR) holders, Afghan Citizen Card (ACC) holders, and undocumented Afghan nationals as well as on the outflows of Afghan nationals at the Torkham, Ghulam Khan, Chaman, Badini and Bahramcha border crossing points, to better understand the protection environment and movements of Afghan nationals returning to Afghanistan from Pakistan.
While the Government of Pakistan has yet to halt the “IFRP”, the rate of arrest, detention, deportation, and returns has decreased significantly since its peak in October and November 2023. Furthermore, on 22 July 2024, the Government of Pakistan formally announced a further extension of the validity of the PoR card, until 30 June 2025.
KEY FINDINGS AND LIMITATIONS
It is important to note that prior to 2023, there was no data collected on the arrest and detention of ACC holders or undocumented Afghan nationals. Since January 2023, IOM has started to collect this data, which should be considered indicative at this point. The figures, particularly of undocumented Afghan nationals, should be considered underreported.
• During the period from 20 October to 2 November 2024, the overall reported rate of arrests and detentions decreased by 54%, compared to the period from 6 to 19 October 2024.
• From 20 October to 2 November, ACC holders and undocumented Afghans represented 55% of the total rate of arrests and detentions, with the majority of those being undocumented Afghans.
• The overall reported rate of arrests and detentions continues to remain the highest for the province of Balochistan. During the period from 20 October to 2 November 2024, 53% of the reported arrests and detentions occurred in Balochistan, a province which sees high levels of irregular migration.
• Across Pakistan, the top three districts for arrest and detention between 1 January and 2 November 2024 are Chagai, Pishin (Balochistan), and Peshawar (Khyber Pakhtunkhwa).