The number of Afghan nationals arrested and detained in Pakistan has witnessed a dramatic increase of 146 percent within a single week. This surge coincides with the reopening of key border crossings, marking one of the most significant escalations in recent months.
According to official data, 7,764 Afghan nationals were arrested and detained in the week ending November 1, compared to significantly lower figures the previous week. The majority of these individuals were Afghan Citizen Card (ACC) holders or undocumented migrants, making up 77 percent of the total, while Proof of Registration (PoR) card holders accounted for the remaining 23 percent.
Balochistan Emerges as the Epicentre of Arrests
The data shows that 86 percent of all arrests and detentions took place in Balochistan, making it the focal point of the ongoing crackdown. The top three districts with the highest number of arrests between January 1 and November 1, 2025, were Chagi, Attock, and Quetta.
Authorities link this sharp rise in arrests to the reopening of border crossings, which has intensified monitoring and enforcement operations in border regions.
Returns and Deportations See Sharp Rise
The number of returns and deportations also climbed steeply in the last week of October. Data shows a 101 percent increase in returns and a 131 percent rise in deportations compared to the previous week.
Figures rose from 18,630 returns, including 3,341 deportations, to 37,448 returns, with 7,733 deportations recorded by November 1. The reopening of the Chaman border and the resumption of operations at Torkham on November 1 played a major role in this surge.
Between September 15, 2023, and November 1, 2025, a total of 1,667,713 individuals have returned to Afghanistan.
Who Is Returning, and Why?
During the period from October 26 to November 1, the largest group of returnees comprised PoR card holders, accounting for 47 percent. Undocumented individuals made up 44 percent, while ACC holders represented 8 percent. Deportations during the same timeframe overwhelmingly involved undocumented migrants, at 93 percent.
Fear of arrest continues to be the main reason for returning among Afghan nationals. Since April 2023, 93 percent of undocumented individuals and ACC holders cited fear of arrest as their primary motivation. Similarly, 39 percent of PoR card holders reported the same concern.
Government Directives Intensify the Crackdown
This surge in arrests follows multiple directives issued by Pakistani authorities this year regarding Afghan nationals. In July, the government ordered the repatriation of PoR card holders after their card validity expired on June 30. A deadline of September 1 was later set for these individuals to leave Pakistan voluntarily.
The renewed enforcement measures indicate the government’s firm stance on repatriation and border control. As deportations accelerate and border security tightens, thousands of Afghans continue to face uncertainty over their future in Pakistan.
