Afghan refugees: the human cost of Pakistan–Afghanistan tensions

Pakistan orders closure of 28 Afghan refugee camps across Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa

For Malam Zameer, who has lived in Peshawar’s Khababiyan Afghan refugee camp for the past four decades, the thought of returning to Afghanistan feels both unimaginable and heartbreaking. Born in Afghanistan but raised in Pakistan, he never thought he would have to leave the place where most of his children were born and raised.

“Since the de-notification of refugee camps, I can hardly sleep,” Zameer told The Express Tribune. “We’re being asked to go back, but how can we afford it? It costs between Rs200,000 to Rs300,000 to transport our belongings to Afghanistan. Most of us are daily wage laborers, vegetable sellers, or unemployed. Even if we want to go, how do we pay for it?”

The federal government, on Friday, through the Ministry of Kashmir Affairs and Frontier Regions (SAFRON), issued a formal notification to immediately close 28 Afghan refugee camps across Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa. The notification, dated October 15, 2025, stated that the decision was in line with the Ministry of Interior’s directives of July 31, 2025.

The notice clarified that the land and immovable assets of these camps will be handed over to the provincial government and the relevant deputy commissioners.

In another de-notified camp in Shamshatoo, Raghuna Bibi (name changed) has a similar story. Born in Peshawar’s Haji Camp, she got married nine years ago and has since lived in Shamshatoo with her two children. “We bought a small three-marla house here with our life savings. How can we just leave it behind?” she said. “My children were about to start school, but now we’re told to vacate and move to Afghanistan. The uncertainty has left us mentally paralysed.

According to data provided to The Express Tribune by the Afghan Commissionerate, a total of 43 Afghan refugee camps across Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, including in Peshawar, Swabi, Nowshera, Mardan, and Haripur, have been de-notified. Refugees residing in these camps have been instructed to return to Afghanistan, and repatriation is being carried out in phases under government policy.

In Haripur, three Afghan camps housing around 67,000 refugees have also been de-notified. According to District Police Officer (DPO) Farhan Khan, around 10,000 refugees have already crossed into Afghanistan over the past few days, while repatriation of the remaining 57,000 continues.

Read: Punjab launches crackdown on illegal Afghan Residents, whistleblower system announced

Sources said the move was intended to ensure the phased return of Afghan citizens living in Pakistan illegally. Notices have been issued to vacate camps in Nowshera, including Akora Khattak and Khairabad.

"We are ensuring a dignified repatriation process,” DPO Khan said. “Police teams are visiting camps to guide families about voluntary return. There is no coercion, families are leaving willingly. Both the district administration and police are following the government’s policy to facilitate their safe return.”

Similarly, eight Afghan camps in Peshawar, including large settlements like Khazana, Naguman, Khababiyan, and Khurasan, have also been de-notified. According to officials, families have been advised by the Deputy Commissioner’s office to prepare for departure.

However, many refugees are still waiting for clarity regarding their property and business assets before making the move.

Government sources said district administrations had been instructed to ensure the camps are fully vacated within seven days. The authorities reportedly completed all arrangements for the dignified return of Afghan refugees, while security agencies tightened surveillance around the camps to maintain order.

Peshawar SSP Operations Masood Ahmed Bangash told The Express Tribune, "that the city police have been instructed to assist refugees in their return. We are ensuring that those traveling back face no transportation or route-related difficulties,” he said. “Police have been strictly directed not to detain or harass any Afghan refugee. Those leaving are doing so under the government’s official repatriation policy.

The move forms part of the government’s policy for repatriating Afghan refugees and implementing deportation measures. Joint teams of district police and local administration are monitoring the registration and relocation of camp residents. Commissioner Mardan has submitted a report to the Chief Secretary, and the Afghan Commissionerate has handed administrative control of vacated camps to the Commissioner.

Expulsion of Afghans

The closures are part of a broader state policy to expel illegal Afghan refugees, accelerated by rising tensions with Afghanistan. In Punjab, the government plans to establish a “whistle-blower system” to report illegal migrants, while in Sindh, authorities have begun demolishing Afghan homes to facilitate repatriation.

During a meeting chaired by Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif, it was announced that the whistleblower system would maintain the anonymity of informants. The government will also launch a combing operation targeting illegal residents and businesses, with those found without legal status to be deported in line with federal policy.

The Punjab government has also moved to bring Afghan nationals into the tax net. The information minister clarified that Afghans legally residing in Pakistan would not be allowed to operate businesses without paying taxes.

Read more: Demolitions of Afghan homes begin in Karachi's Sohrab Goth

According to home department statistics, around 65,000 Afghan nationals have already been deported, with operations ongoing.

In Karachi, authorities have begun demolishing homes in Afghan Basti area in Sohrab Goth. The Malir Development Authority (MDA) has taken control of the land to prevent encroachment and reclaim it for official use. Previously, the camp, under Gulshan-e-Maymar police jurisdiction, housed more than 3,000 homes and approximately 15,000 Afghan nationals, though around 1,500 reportedly remain.

The human cost

In Punjab, the crackdown has drawn concern from local Pakhtun communities, who say they are frequently subjected to identity checks during police raids.

“It’s because of them that our areas go through combing operations repeatedly,” said Gulzeb Khan, a businessman from Lahore Cantonment and member of the Pakhtun Welfare Association. He added that obtaining documents such as NICs, passports, and birth certificates has become difficult for his community.

Afghan nationals in Pakistan have also voiced distress. Moeen Khan, a labourer in Lahore, said he and his family had lived in the country for 60 years and have no remaining relatives in Afghanistan. “We love Pakistan and want both countries to live as brothers. This country has given us shelter and opportunities,” he said, recounting an incident in which police stopped his family at a city entry point and demanded Rs500 to avoid deportation.

Pak-Afghan border clash

Pakistan has maintained its repatriation policy since November 2023 as part of the Illegal Foreigners Repatriation Plan. Authorities have since repatriated approximately 1.3 million Afghans under the ongoing deportation drive.

Also read: Explained: Pakistan-Afghanistan border conflict

However, tensions have intensified recently after the Afghan fire on multiple locations in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, prompting swift military retaliation. Several Afghan posts were destroyed, and dozens of Afghan soldiers and militants were killed.

A 48-hour ceasefire was agreed at the behest of the Afghan Taliban regime following Pakistan’s “precision strikes” on Taliban and terrorist hideouts in Kandahar and Kabul.