TORKHAM, Afghanistan — An unexpected and unrelenting directive left Sher Khan scrambling. “Leave Pakistan within 45 minutes,” came the harsh command. The 42-year-old returned to his home from a long day at the brick factory, only to find a plainclothes officer at his doorstep enforcing the order. With barely time to think, let alone plan, Khan faced the near-impossible task of dismantling his entire life in moments.
Born and raised in Pakistan by parents who had fled the 1979 Soviet invasion of Afghanistan, Khan’s life had now been abruptly uprooted. Faced with the brutal reality of expulsion, he and his wife hastily gathered a few kitchen supplies and clothes for themselves and their nine children, leaving behind a life built over decades in Pakistan-controlled Kashmir.
Sher Khan is among hundreds of thousands who, haunted by the fear of an uncertain future, complied with the expulsion order following a national crackdown initiated by Pakistan in October 2023. Nearly one million Afghans left the country in a mass exodus, driven by the government’s firm stance to expel foreigners it labels as illegal residents. Despite the significant number already departed, Pakistan remains adamant, indicating millions more are yet to leave.
Reflecting on their hurried departure, Khan lamented, “All our belongings were left behind.” Now standing amidst the routine chaos of a dusty refugee camp in Torkham, just past the Afghan border, Khan recalled the possessions accumulated through years of hard work that they left behind. “We tried so hard to collect the things we had with honor.” With deadlines announced earlier that year, Afghan Citizen Card holders faced orders to evacuate from major cities like Islamabad and Rawalpindi by given dates, with threats of detention looming if they lingered.
Desperate to retain his family’s dignity, Khan acted swiftly. “We are happy that we came back with modesty and honor,” he reflected, clinging to hope that providence might favor them in Afghanistan as it once did in Pakistan.
Over in Torkham, Taliban authorities welcomed new arrivals at the refugee camp. Here, the displaced receive a SIM card and roughly $145 in aid, allowed to stay just a few days before finding another home. Molvi Hashim Maiwandwal, the camp’s director, observed fewer families were crossing the border compared to the surge two months prior, though another large wave seemed imminent after the Eid Al-Adha holiday concluded.
Aid organizations, like local charity Aseel, played crucial roles, distributing hygiene kits and assisting with food distribution. Najibullah Ghiasi of Aseel predicted sharply increased numbers post-Eid, a concern compounded by limited resources. “We cannot handle all of them,” he admitted, pointing to ongoing fundraising efforts to expand their support capabilities.
Amid these escalating pressures, Pakistan accused Afghans of instigating militant activities against it, alleging plans were orchestrated by neighbors—claims fervently denied by Afghanistan’s Taliban government. Officials insisted that deportees were treated with dignity, though the speed and abruptness of such demands painted another picture. Meanwhile, Iran joined in expelling Afghans, adding to regional tensions and humanitarian burdens.
Rights groups have portrayed these deportations as coercive. In April, Human Rights Watch highlighted systematic raids, arbitrary detentions, document confiscations, and alleged demands for bribes to delay deportations.
Stories like that of Yar Mohammad, a long-time businessman in Pakistan-controlled Kashmir, reveal the tremendous personal cost. After 45 years and a successful floor-polishing business, the 50-year-old, and father of twelve, was afforded just six hours by police to dismantle his livelihood. With the help of friends, he salvaged what he could before everything became crammed into temporary shelters at the Torkham refugee camp.
Facing an uncertain economic future in Kabul, Mohammad remains determined to rebuild. “I have no idea what we will do,” he confessed, hopeful yet anxious about starting anew with his floor-polishing endeavor, “If this works here, it is the best thing to do.”