INTERNATIONAL — April 3, 2026
Pakistan Detains Over 19,000 Afghan Migrants in Past Three Months
Pakistan detained over 19,000 Afghan migrants from January 1 to April 8, primarily in Balochistan, with 1,626 holding temporary residence cards and the rest Afghan citizenship cards. In the same period, 172,542 returned to Afghanistan, more than 18,000 forcibly according to UNHCR and IOM, amid tensions with the Taliban and deportation orders from Pakistan's Interior Minister.
The Ehtebar Desk — originates with Afghanistan International — 2 min read
Pakistan has detained more than 19,000 Afghan migrants over the past three months from January 1 to April 8, according to a joint report. The majority of these detentions occurred in Balochistan province, with additional arrests reported in Islamabad, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Sindh and Punjab.
Among those detained, 1,626 held temporary residence cards issued by Pakistan, while the remainder possessed Afghan citizenship cards.
In the same period, 172,542 Afghan migrants returned to Afghanistan from Pakistan. The United Nations refugee agency UNHCR and the International Organization for Migration IOM stated that more than 18,000 of these returnees were forcibly deported.
The detentions and deportations are taking place amid intensified tensions between Pakistan and the Taliban. Pakistan's Interior Minister has recently ordered the deportation of Afghan migrants, including those holding Pakistani identity cards.
Read the original reporting at Afghanistan International →
Reliability assessment
Single source provides concrete, checkable details including specific numbers (19,000 detained, 172,542 returned, 18,000 deported), time period (11th Jadi to 8th Hamal), locations (Balochistan, etc.), and direct attributions to UNHCR, IOM, and Pakistani Interior Minister.
The source language reads straight.
Independent web corroboration
An independent web search turned up no separate corroborating reports. Treat the account as single-sourced until more outlets pick it up.
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Afghanistan International
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International — Afghan migrants, Pakistan, deportations, Balochistan, UNHCR
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