Pakistan’s border with Afghanistan has become the epicenter of a humanitarian and political storm as Islamabad intensifies its crackdown on undocumented migrants, resulting in the expulsion of tens of thousands of Afghans in just a matter of days. According to Amu TV, the Taliban’s Commission for Refugees reported that on Monday, November 3, 2025, at least 16,000 Afghan migrants were expelled from Pakistan in one of the highest single-day deportation figures since the campaign began. The day prior, more than 15,000 Afghans had already crossed back into Afghanistan, bringing the two-day total to over 31,000 returnees.
The majority of these returnees—8,925 people—crossed through the Torkham border in Nangarhar Province, while 5,912 entered via the Spin Boldak crossing in Kandahar. Another 989 Afghans made their way back through the Bahramcha border point in Helmand. The Taliban commission also noted that Iran deported 417 Afghans during the same period, some voluntarily and others forcibly, through border crossings in Herat and Nimroz provinces.
This surge in deportations follows Pakistan’s nationwide directive ordering all undocumented migrants—most of whom are Afghan—to leave the country by early November 2025. The government’s move is part of a broader effort to address what it describes as security and economic concerns stemming from illegal migration. Pakistan’s National Database and Registration Authority (NADRA) has also announced plans to cancel at least 250,000 Computerised National Identity Cards (CNICs) that were allegedly issued to Afghan nationals illegally. Intelligence sources cited by News18 revealed that some of these fake CNICs were created using colored printers and software, with fraudulent documents and bribes—including fake marriage certificates—used to obtain them.
According to these Pakistani sources, "those with fake CNICs are involved in money laundering, terror financing and other illegal activities. Many militants are using these Afghans and their families for crimes. The crackdown against Afghan refugees will continue in Pakistan." The government’s stance is that the security risks posed by undocumented migrants, particularly those suspected of links to militant groups, require urgent and decisive action.
On the other side of the border, Taliban officials and sources have condemned the crackdown, characterizing it as both inhumane and contrary to the principles of Islamic brotherhood. Taliban representatives argue that many of those being expelled were born and raised in Pakistan, and their sudden forced return amounts to a violation of their rights. As one Taliban source put it, "their expulsion is inhumane and against Islamic brotherhood." The Taliban further allege that Pakistan’s actions are motivated by external pressures, saying, "Pakistan is bowing to Western and IMF pressures to appear tough on terrorism financing." They have even gone so far as to describe the campaign as "systematic ethnic cleansing of Pashtuns."
The roots of the current crisis stretch back to early October, when Pakistan first announced a strict crackdown on Afghan refugees, declaring that all Afghan nationals residing illegally in the country would be deported "as soon as possible." This escalation came on the heels of a violent flare-up between the two neighbors. On October 9, 2025, Pakistan reportedly launched cross-border airstrikes targeting Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) camps in Kabul, accusing the Afghan Taliban of harboring militants responsible for killing hundreds of Pakistani soldiers since 2021. In response, the Taliban mounted a major counteroffensive, killing 58 Pakistani soldiers and destroying 20 security outposts.
Despite these hostilities, both countries have since moved to de-escalate tensions, maintaining a fragile peace and extending a ceasefire. A second round of peace talks is scheduled for November 6, 2025, in an effort to prevent further violence and address mutual security concerns. Yet, the ongoing deportations and the looming threat of mass identity card cancellations continue to cast a long shadow over diplomatic efforts.
On the ground, the situation for returnees is becoming increasingly dire. The Taliban’s Commission for Refugees has initiated biometric registration for those returning and distributed about 1.55 million Afghanis (approximately $21,000) in transport and cash aid, along with basic health services. But aid organizations warn that these measures are woefully insufficient. Many returnees are living in makeshift tents, especially in Kandahar, without enough food, water, or electricity. As winter approaches, the risks are set to multiply for families already facing poverty, drought, and the lingering effects of Afghanistan’s economic collapse.
Human rights groups have not minced words in their criticism of Pakistan’s mass deportations. They argue that the forced returns will have severe humanitarian consequences, particularly as the country braces for colder temperatures and as Afghanistan’s infrastructure continues to struggle under the weight of overlapping crises. The prospect of thousands more being sent back—many of whom have spent their entire lives in Pakistan—raises urgent questions about the responsibilities of both the Pakistani and Afghan governments, as well as the international community.
Meanwhile, the fate of those holding questionable CNICs remains uncertain. Pakistan’s NADRA claims to have uncovered significant fraud in the issuance of identity cards, with allegations that some were granted based on fake documents and bribes. The government maintains that cracking down on these cases is essential to curbing crime and terrorism financing. However, Taliban officials and Afghan advocates counter that the move unfairly targets an already vulnerable population, many of whom have no ties to militancy and consider Pakistan their only home.
Underlying these policy decisions is a complex web of regional politics, security concerns, and international pressures. Pakistani officials have cited the need to demonstrate a tough stance on terrorism financing to satisfy demands from Western governments and the International Monetary Fund. For the Taliban, the expulsions are viewed through the lens of ethnic and political marginalization, particularly as many of those being deported are Pashtuns—a group with deep historical ties on both sides of the border.
As the second round of peace talks approaches, the stakes could hardly be higher. Both governments are under immense pressure: Pakistan from international partners and domestic security imperatives, and Afghanistan from the urgent need to provide for thousands of returnees amid a crumbling economy. Whether the talks will yield a lasting solution—or simply paper over the cracks—remains to be seen.
For now, the human cost of the crackdown is impossible to ignore. With tens of thousands of Afghans forced to leave behind the only lives they’ve known, and aid organizations scrambling to meet basic needs, the crisis at the border is a sobering reminder of how quickly political decisions can upend ordinary lives. As winter sets in and diplomatic efforts continue, the world will be watching closely to see whether compassion and pragmatism can prevail over fear and suspicion.
