Nearly 40,000 Afghan Refugees Leave Pakistan's Balochistan Province

As part of Pakistan's ongoing crackdown on undocumented foreign nationals, nearly 40,000 Afghan refugees have left Quetta, the capital of Balochistan province. Many of these refugees had lived in the area for decades, establishing homes and businesses since fleeing the Soviet invasion. The repatriation drive, which began in October 2023, has seen an estimated 1.5 million Afghans leave Pakistan. The current exodus is partly driven by a desire to resettle before the onset of harsh winter conditions in Afghanistan.