Pakistan has detained over 100,000 Afghans between January 1 and mid-November 2025 according to the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR). Most arrests were made in Chagai and Quetta districts of Balochistan and Attock districts of Punjab.
UNHCR said 76 per cent of those detained were Afghan Citizen Card holders or undocumented migrants, while the remaining 24 per cent possessed Proof of Registration cards.
The rise in detention of Afghan migrants comes after two government orders in 2025, which directed the removal of Afghan migrants from Islamabad and Rawalpindi and allowed police to arrest PoR-card holders.
UNHCR noted a reduction in cash assistance for Afghan refugees in Pakistan as funding from donors continues to decrease. Aid agencies warned that the reduction has increased the vulnerability of thousands of Afghan families who rely on support for food, rent and winter supplies.
Several humanitarian organisations have urged Pakistan to ensure that any returns are voluntary and in accordance with international obligations.
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