Most of them are probably from Afghanistan and many have already return to their home country.
Pakistan’s November 1 deadline for undocumented migrants to leave the country approaches. Meanwhile, the Taliban government in Afghanistan has reported that around 60,000 Afghans returned from Pakistan between September 23 and October 22, following Pakistan’s announcement on October 4 that it would expel undocumented migrants who did not leave.
The recent daily returnee figures are three times higher than usual, according to the Taliban refugee ministry. Near Karachi’s Sohrab Goth area, which houses a significant Afghan population, bus services saw increased demand as families prepared to leave. The threat of expulsion and state-backed harassment, even affecting Afghans with valid papers, have torn families apart.
Pakistan, with over 4 million Afghan migrants and refugees, claims that about 1.7 million are undocumented. While Pakistan cites security concerns and economic strain as reasons for the expulsion, many Afghans view it as their only sanctuary from Afghanistan’s challenges. Samar Abbas of the Sindh Human Rights Defenders Network is assisting 200 Afghans seeking to remain in Pakistan.
