KABUL, AFGHANISTAN – Arrests and detentions of Afghan nationals in Pakistan have increased by 18% in early January compared with the previous week, with the majority of cases reported in Balochistan province, a joint update from UN agencies said.
The flash update, released by the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR) and the International Organization for Migration (IOM), reported that 1,726 Afghan nationals were arrested and detained between January 4 and 10. Of these, 73% were in Balochistan and 16% in Islamabad, the capital.
According to the report, holders of Afghan Citizen Cards (ACC) and undocumented Afghans accounted for 87% of those arrested during the period, while Proof of Registration (PoR) card holders made up 13%.
From September 15, 2025, to January 10, 2026, a total of 130,999 Afghan nationals were arrested and detained across Pakistan. Balochistan recorded 68% of cases, followed by Islamabad with 19%, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa 6%, Punjab 4%, and Sindh 3%.
Pakistan has hosted Afghan refugees for over four decades, providing shelter to millions who fled conflict and political instability. In September 2023, the government launched the Illegal Foreigners Repatriation Plan, which targets undocumented Afghans and those holding temporary documents such as ACC and PoR cards. Since its implementation, authorities have conducted nationwide operations to identify, detain, and deport Afghan nationals.
UNHCR and IOM data indicate that since September 2023, 1,957,694 Afghan nationals have returned to or been deported from Pakistan, with 1,125,946 movements recorded in 2025.
Similar deportation and repatriation campaigns are ongoing in neighboring Iran. According to the UN, more than 2.6 million Afghan refugees returned or were deported from Iran and Pakistan in 2025.
The mass returns are occurring amid a deepening humanitarian crisis in Afghanistan, where nearly half the population faces severe food insecurity and other vulnerabilities. UN agencies estimate that nearly 22 million people will require humanitarian assistance in 2026. The World Food Programme warns that five million women and children could face acute malnutrition in the next 12 months, with four million children requiring treatment for severe malnutrition.
