PESHAWAR-As the clock winds down on Pakistan’s March 31 deadline for undocumented Afghan migrants, the state is intensifying its crackdown. Across key cities, authorities are finalizing preparations for mass deportations, with two temporary camps under construction to process departures.
One site, located in Peshawar’s Jumma Khan Colony, and another in Landi Kotal’s Gulab Ground, are being readied to accommodate those who will soon be expelled through the Torkham border. The directive is unambiguous: there will be no extensions. Interior Ministry has issued firm instructions to officials in Rawalpindi and Islamabad, emphasizing that all undocumented Afghan nationals must leave before the deadline. In Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, lists of Afghan residents in cantonment areas have been finalized, and officials are preparing to move in.
A final warning
In Landi Kotal, the construction of the deportation camp is in its final stages. Designed to hold up to 1,500 people at a time, the facility is scheduled to become operational on April 1. Immigration officers, representatives from the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), and law enforcement personnel will oversee the expulsion process. Afghan nationals without legal status will be detained, processed, and escorted to the Torkham border for forced removal. As the deadline looms, the pressure on Afghan residents mounts. Some have chosen to leave voluntarily, while others remain in limbo, unsure of what awaits them once they cross the border into an Afghanistan still grappling with an economic crisis and political instability.
International outcry
Human rights organizations have raised alarm over the scale and pace of the expulsions. Amnesty International has urged the Pakistani government to reconsider its deportation plan, warning that the decision could trigger a humanitarian crisis. “Pakistan’s March 31 deadline will deepen the suffering of Afghan migrants,” Amnesty International said in a statement. “Forced removals will only make matters worse.” Despite international criticism, Pakistan remains unmoved. Since 2023, the government has expelled more than 844,000 Afghans, insisting that security concerns take precedence over humanitarian considerations.
The Foreign Office has linked the deportations to rising security threats, citing intelligence reports that suggest terrorist groups are using Afghan territories as safe havens. “Security is our priority,” Foreign Office spokesperson Shafqat Ali Khan said. “We will continue discussions, but the deportations will not stop.”
Tensions with Washington have also surfaced in the wake of Pakistan’s actions. The Pakistani government has dismissed recent U.S. congressional resolutions critical of the deportation plan, while also pushing back against U.S. sanctions imposed on local businesses. However, Pakistan has welcomed Washington’s decision to designate Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) as a terrorist organization, seeing it as an acknowledgment of the country’s longstanding concerns over cross-border militancy.
Crackdown expands to students
The scope of the crackdown has now expanded beyond undocumented residents. Pakistan’s Federal Ministry of Interior has formally requested records of Afghan students studying in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, instructing provincial authorities to submit details by March 27. The request, issued through the ministry’s Security Cell, signals a widening of the government’s efforts to identify and expel Afghan nationals. The policy is already affecting Afghan-run educational institutions and medical facilities. In Peshawar, at least 10 schools and medical clinics catering to Afghan refugees have been shut down, with dozens more closures expected in the coming days.
Afghan-owned schools, ranging from primary to college level, have been ordered to cease operations, particularly in areas such as Ring Road, Board Bazaar, and Afghan Colony. The closure of businesses has sent shockwaves through the Afghan community. Notices have been issued at multiple locations, instructing Afghan entrepreneurs, educators, and doctors to shut down their operations. Clinics run by Afghan doctors have also begun closing, further disrupting access to medical care for the refugee population.
Authorities have acknowledged the humanitarian sensitivities surrounding the deportation drive, particularly with Ramadan in full swing. While no official delay has been announced, some officials have hinted at a brief pause during Eid-ul-Fitr, allowing Afghan migrants a temporary reprieve before enforcement resumes. However, this would be only a minor concession—after March 31, the government has warned that strict legal action will be taken against those who remain in the country illegally. With only days left before the deadline expires, security forces have intensified efforts to identify Afghan business owners, individuals using fake Pakistani identification documents, and other undocumented migrants. Officials expect a significant number to leave voluntarily after Eid, but they are also prepared to execute mass removals if necessary.
The machinery of deportation is now fully in motion. The camps are nearing completion, border security is being reinforced, and authorities are clearing the final administrative hurdles. For many Afghans in Pakistan, the coming days will determine their fate—whether they leave of their own accord or face forced expulsion. Pakistan has made its position clear: March 31 is the last opportunity for Afghan migrants to exit voluntarily. After that, deportations will be swift and uncompromising.
