Islamabad, Pakistan – Pakistan de-notifies 16 Afghan refugee villages across Balochistan, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, and Punjab provinces. This decision, announced recently, affects thousands of residents who have lived there for decades. The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) voiced deep concern on Wednesday. Officials warn it could hasten the forced return of Afghan refugees to Afghanistan by the end of 2025. The action forms part of the Illegal Foreigners Repatriation Plan (IFRP), launched in 2023.
UNHCR Flags Risks in Pakistan De-Notifies 16 Afghan Refugee Villages Action
The de-notification strips the villages of their official refugee status. This forces inhabitants to relocate or face deportation. UNHCR Representative in Pakistan, Philippa Candler, stated the move contravenes principles of voluntary return. “Return of refugees should be organised, phased, voluntary, in dignity and safety, with respect for rights and protection of those in need,” Candler said in an official statement.
Pakistan hosts about 1.35 million registered Afghan refugees, plus an estimated 600,000 undocumented arrivals since August 2021. Many in the de-notified villages hold Proof of Registration (PoR) cards, granting legal stay until extended deadlines. Yet, the IFRP targets all undocumented foreigners, including PoR holders, for repatriation. By September 2025, over 1.5 million Afghans had returned from Pakistan since the plan’s start, per UNHCR data.
The federal cabinet approved the de-notification last week. It aims to reclaim land for development and ease security pressures. Government data shows the villages house around 25,000 refugees in total. Balochistan bears the heaviest load with eight villages affected. Khyber Pakhtunkhwa follows with five, and Punjab with three.
Broader Context of UNHCR Pakistan Forced Return Afghan Refugees 2025
This step escalates tensions in the UNHCR Pakistan forced return Afghan refugees 2025 landscape. In July 2025, Pakistan extended the IFRP to PoR holders, prompting arrests and detentions nationwide. UNHCR reported over 352,000 returns from Pakistan in the first half of 2025 alone. The agency urges exemptions for vulnerable groups: women, girls, medical patients, students, and mixed-marriage families.
A joint UNHCR-IOM statement from February 2025 highlighted risks. It noted a non-return advisory since 2021, suspending forced returns due to Afghanistan’s instability. “Forced return to Afghanistan could place some people at increased risk,” the statement read. Ethnic minorities, journalists, and activists face persecution threats under Taliban rule.
In August 2025, Pakistan set a 31 October deadline for voluntary exits. Non-compliance triggers deportations. UNHCR data tracks 73,560 Afghan returns in late September 2025, with 39% (28,682) from Pakistan. This marks a 35% drop from prior weeks, possibly due to seasonal factors or enforcement pauses.
Impacts on Refugee Communities
Residents face immediate livelihood losses. Many built homes, farms, and businesses in these villages over 40 years. A sudden shift disrupts education for 10,000 children and healthcare for 5,000 elders, per government estimates. Women and girls risk rights erosion in Afghanistan, where education bans persist.
UNHCR warns of reintegration challenges. Returnees arrive penniless, straining Afghanistan’s resources amid a humanitarian crisis. Only 24% of the $478 million needed for 2025 aid has funded, per agency reports. Pakistan’s generosity over decades saved millions, but economic strains fuel the pushback.
Why This Matters in South Asia
Pakistan de-notify Afghan refugee villages decision ripples across South Asia. It strains borders with Afghanistan and Iran, hosting 5.7 million Afghans combined. Returns fuel instability, risking onward migration to India, Bangladesh, and beyond. Regional trade at Torkham and Chaman crossings halts amid crowds. South Asian economies lose remittances from Afghan workers, estimated at PKR 500 million annually in Pakistan alone.
The move tests international norms like non-refoulement, prohibiting returns to harm. It pressures UNHCR’s regional response plan, underfunded at 55% for 2025. Tensions could spark diplomatic rows, as Afghanistan protests the pace. For South Asia, it underscores migration’s link to security, economy, and human rights.
Historical Background
Afghans fled to Pakistan en masse since 1979 Soviet invasion. Peaks hit during 1980s mujahideen wars and 2001 Taliban ouster. Pakistan established 366 villages, now down to 50 after prior repatriations. Over 6 million returned voluntarily since 2002, aided by UNHCR cash grants of $700 per family.
Post-2021 Taliban takeover, 600,000 more arrived. Pakistan renewed PoR cards in 2022 for legal stay till June 2023, extended repeatedly. The 2023 IFRP targeted undocumented first, deporting 844,499 by February 2025. Inclusion of registered refugees marks a shift, driven by terror attack spikes blamed on Afghan soil.
What’s Next for Affected Refugees
Talks between Pakistan and UNHCR continue. The agency seeks PoR extensions beyond 2025 and exemptions for 100,000 at-risk individuals. A grace period ends 31 October 2025, after which deportations ramp up. IOM plans screening mechanisms for family ties and skills.
Pakistan de-notify Afghan refugee villages process may expand to more sites if unmet. UNHCR calls for donor boosts to aid returns. Monitoring at borders like Torkham intensifies, with teams aiding 100,000 weekly crossings. Outcomes hinge on winter diplomacy, as cold halts mass movements.
In conclusion, the Pakistan de-notify Afghan refugee villages policy underscores urgency in balancing security with humanity. As 2025 closes, voluntary paths offer the sole humane route forward.
Published in SouthAsianDesk, October 9th, 2025
Follow SouthAsianDesk on X, Instagram, and Facebook for insights on business and current affairs from across South Asia.
