Pakistan — Quarterly Flow Monitoring of Afghan Returnees from Pakistan (July - September 2023)

IOM in Pakistan collects data on the outflows of Afghans at the Torkham and Chaman border crossing points to better understand the movements of Afghans returning to Afghanistan. Key findings during this reporting period are:

• Between July and September 2023, 39,176 Afghan nationals spontaneously returned to Afghanistan, including 21,182 through the Torkham border point and 17,994 through the Chaman border point. In addition, border authorities forcibly returned 998 individuals due to a lack of valid documentation.

• During the reporting period, spontaneous returns through both border points increased compared to the previous reporting periods, especially during the month September, where return through Chaman rose to 9,612 returns and in Torkham to 14,352 returns. The significant increase in returns, especially for Torkham, is due to the announcement of the Government of Pakistan that Tazkira holders are allowed to cross the border until further notice.

• This announcement is part of the “Illegal Foreigners’ Repatriation Plan”, which was announced on 26 September 2023 by the Government of Pakistan. The plan comprises of mechanisms to consolidate databases of “illegal foreigners” in the country, check entry of new illegal entrants, apprehension, deportation, repatriation of illegal/overstaying foreigners.