Flow Monitoring of Afghan Returnees – Bi-Weekly Report (16 - 31 March 2024)

The International Organization for Migration (IOM) in Pakistan collects data on the outflows of Afghans at the Torkham (Khyber Pakhtunkhwa), Badini, Bahramcha and Chaman (Balochistan) border crossing points (BCPs) to better understand the movements of Afghans returning to Afghanistan. The data presented below is harmonised with those from the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), who also cover Ghulam Khan (Khyber Pakhtunkhwa). On 26 September 2023, the Ministry of Interior in Pakistan announced its decision to enact its “Illegal Foreigners’ Repatriation Plan (IFRP)”. Between 16 and 31 March 2024, 7,532 Afghan nationals returned to Afghanistan, including 5,057 through the Torkham BCP, 1,149 through the Chaman BCP, 1326 through the Ghulam Khan BCP, while no Afghan nationals returned through the Badini BCP. In addition, border authorities deported 74 individuals due to a lack of valid documentation. Since 1 January 2024, IOM identified 54,227 returns at the four BCPs.