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, GhulamKhan, Chaman, Badini and Bahramcha border crossing points, to better understand the protection environment and movements of Afghan nationals returning to Afghanistan from Pakistan.
From January–February 2025, the Government of Pakistan (GoP) issued a directive, requiring Afghan nationals in Pakistan to relocate from Islamabad Capital Territory (ICT) and Rawalpindi, or else face deportation. In response, on 5 February 2025, UNHCR and IOM issued a joint press statement. Further announcements followed on the implementation of the second phase of the “IFRP”, targeting ACC holders in addition to undocumented Afghans to return to Afghanistan. These decisions have resulted in an uptick in arrests, detentions and deportations of Afghan nationals, particularly in April 2025.Atpresent, the PoR card validity is yet to be extended, following itsexpirationon30June2025.
KEY FINDINGS AND LIMITATIONS
Priorto2023, 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. The figures, particularly of undocumented Afghan nationals, should be considered underreported.
• During the reporting period (22–28 June), a total of 2,144 Afghan nationals were arrested and detained, marking a 41% increase compared to the previous week.
• Overall, arrests and detentions decreased by 81%between the recentpeakinApril2025andJune2025.
• Out of all arrests and detentions during the reporting period (2228 June), ACC holders and undocumented Afghans represented 95%of the total rate of arrest and detentions.
• During the reporting period (22–28 June), 70%of the total arrests and detentions took place in Balochistan.
• Across Pakistan, the top three districts for arrest and detention between1 January and28 June 2025 are Chaghi (Balochistan), Attock (Punjab), and Chaman (Balochistan).