By: Sayed Habib Bidell | July 2025
Kandahar / Nangarhar —
Since April 2025, the forced deportation of Afghan nationals from Pakistan has intensified significantly, with alarming numbers crossing daily through the Spin Boldak and Torkham border crossings into southern and eastern Afghanistan. According to local border officials and humanitarian workers, over 900,000 Afghans have been expelled within a few months—many under harsh conditions and without proper due process.
At Spin Boldak, in Kandahar province, returnees arrive in waves, visibly distressed. Many report being arrested abruptly, held in overcrowded detention centers, and having their belongings confiscated by Pakistani police before being transported to the border. Some have not seen their homeland in decades; others were born in Pakistan and have never stepped foot in Afghanistan until now.
"We were given just a few hours to leave. We lost everything—our home, our work, our savings," said one father of four, holding his daughter as they waited for food rations in the scorching heat of the reception camp.
Local Taliban officials confirmed that among the deportees are former detainees, some of whom were held without charge. Since April, more than 49,000 migrants and 3,600 former prisoners have returned through Spin Boldak alone.
Meanwhile, at Torkham, the largest land border crossing in Nangarhar province, similar conditions prevail. On peak days, over 5,000 individuals are documented crossing back into Afghanistan. According to data from humanitarian agencies, more than 58,000 deportees have returned through this corridor within a matter of weeks.
The returnees face enormous challenges upon arrival: most lack shelter, livelihood opportunities, or access to essential services. Humanitarian organizations and local authorities have provided temporary relief—including water, food, and basic medical assistance—but the available support is insufficient given the scale of the crisis.
Psychological trauma is also prevalent. Health workers at border clinics report growing cases of anxiety, depression, and post-traumatic stress, particularly among women and children. Some families have spoken of kidnappings, extortion, and violence they endured before being forced out of Pakistan.
"I met several mothers who had lost contact with their sons during detention. One child was reportedly taken by a criminal gang demanding ransom," said a mental health volunteer in Kandahar.
The Afghan government has appealed to international organizations for increased aid and long-term reintegration plans, but so far, response efforts remain fragmented and under-resourced.
The situation remains fluid and precarious. While the border remains open, new waves of deportations are expected in the coming weeks as Pakistan intensifies its crackdown on undocumented foreigners—regardless of how long they have lived in the country.