Mass Expulsion: Pakistan Orders Afghans to Leave Within 45 Minutes, Over a Million Already Repatriated
Torkham, Afghanistan – In a startling and swift move, the Pakistani government issued abrupt orders to Afghan refugees living in the country, demanding that they vacate within just 45 minutes—a directive that has left countless families in shock and distress. This sudden action is part of a broader campaign initiated in October 2023, targeting illegal foreign nationals residing in Pakistan.
So far, more than one million Afghan citizens have been forced to return to Afghanistan, many of them leaving behind their homes, belongings, and decades of memories. Despite this large exodus, Pakistani authorities estimate that millions more Afghans still remain in the country and are expected to leave under the same directive.
A Sudden Shock: ‘You Have 45 Minutes to Leave’
Afghan families across Pakistan have shared heartbreaking stories of how they were given virtually no time to prepare for their departure. One such voice is 42-year-old Sher Khan, who worked at a brick kiln in Pakistan. When he returned home one evening, he was met by plainclothes police officers at his doorstep. He was stunned when told he had only 45 minutes to pack and leave the country for good.
“I felt like my entire world collapsed in that moment,” Khan recounted. He and his wife hastily packed some clothes and kitchen items for their nine children, leaving behind everything else in their home in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir. Khan, who was born and raised in Pakistan, is among the countless Afghans now forced to start over in a land they barely know.
Refugees in Torkham Camps: Starting From Scratch
Now residing in a refugee camp in Torkham, just across the Afghanistan-Pakistan border, Sher Khan said he has lost everything he worked for. “We left behind all that we had earned with dignity,” he said. “But we are grateful we made it back safely with our family. God will take care of what we lost.”
The Torkham refugee camp, run by Afghanistan’s Taliban-led government, provides temporary shelter and minimal support for returning families. Each family receives a SIM card and financial aid of 10,000 Afghanis (approximately $145). They are allowed to stay for up to three days. According to Molvi Hashim Maiwandwal, a camp official, about 150 families are currently arriving at the camp every day—a sharp decline from 1,200 per day just two months ago. Officials expect the numbers to surge again following Eid al-Adha.
Humanitarian organisations are stepping in to provide essential services such as food, hygiene kits, and healthcare. A non-profit group named Aseel is actively distributing sanitation kits and food supplies to help families cope with the displacement.
A Tense Political Backdrop
Pakistan’s mass deportation campaign comes amid rising tensions with Afghanistan. Islamabad has accused Afghan nationals of being involved in terrorist attacks on Pakistani soil, claiming these incidents were orchestrated from Afghanistan. The Taliban government has categorically denied all allegations, stating that it does not allow its soil to be used for cross-border terrorism.
Despite claims by the Pakistani authorities that they are treating deportees with humanity and respect, the reality tells a different story. Forcing families to abandon their lives in a matter of minutes—often under police pressure—is widely seen as a violation of human rights.
Deadlines and Uncertainty
Earlier this year, the Pakistani government had issued deadlines for Afghans to leave certain cities. Afghan nationals living in Islamabad and Rawalpindi were ordered to exit the country by March 31, 2024, while registered refugees were allowed to stay until June 30. However, there remains no official exit timeline for Afghan residents living in other regions of Pakistan, leaving many in a state of uncertainty and fear.
The Human Cost of Political Policies
While Pakistan justifies its campaign as an effort to rid the country of illegal immigrants, critics argue that the mass expulsion of Afghan refugees—many of whom were born and raised in Pakistan—fails to acknowledge the human cost of such sweeping policies. These refugees now face a harsh reality in Afghanistan, a nation still reeling from decades of war, economic instability, and humanitarian crises.
The international community has begun to take notice, but concrete support for the displaced remains limited. As thousands continue to cross into Afghanistan every week, families like Sher Khan’s are left hoping for a more stable future in a land that, despite being their ancestral home, is now unfamiliar and uncertain.
