Tehran- IRAF- a joint report by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) and the International Organization for Migration shows that, the trend of arrests and deportations of Afghan nationals in Pakistan increased significantly during the first month of 2026.
The report states that between January 1 and January 31, a total of 7,015 Afghans were arrested across various parts of Pakistan.
Among Pakistan’s provinces, Balochistan recorded the highest number of arrests, with 3,713 cases.
This was followed by Islamabad, which ranked second with 1,528 arrests.
These figures indicate that security crackdowns against Afghan migrants have intensified across different regions of Pakistan and have expanded to major cities as well.
During the same period, 77,304 Afghan nationals were returned from Pakistan to Afghanistan—a figure that includes both forced deportations and voluntary returns.
International organizations state that a significant portion of these returns occurred under security pressure and restrictive legal measures.
Human rights organizations and international bodies have repeatedly warned about the situation of Afghan migrants in Pakistan. According to them, many refugees are facing widespread arrests, severe restrictions on movement, difficulties accessing basic services, and an increasingly insecure environment.
These organizations stress that the Pakistani government must adhere to international human rights principles and standards in its treatment of refugees.
The report comes amid a recent intensification of Pakistan’s hardline policies toward Afghan migrants, with a new wave of deportations underway.
Experts warn that the continuation of this trend could lead to widespread humanitarian consequences for migrant families, particularly women and children.
