In a bold move echoing Pakistan’s aggressive stance, 19 EU countries plus Norway are ramping up pressure on the European Commission to repatriate Afghan nationals living illegally in Europe—voluntarily or by force. This push, highlighted in a recent Euronews report, comes amid rising security fears and strained asylum systems. But why is Europe mirroring Pakistan’s deportation playbook? And what headaches are both regions dealing with when it comes to hosting Afghan refugees?
Europe’s Urgent Call for Afghan Returns:
Europe’s frustration boils down to a simple yet explosive issue: the inability to send back Afghan migrants, even those convicted of serious crimes, since the Taliban’s 2021 takeover shattered formal return agreements. According to the joint letter spearheaded by Belgium’s Asylum and Migration Minister Anneleen Van Bossuyt, this loophole “poses a threat to EU countries’ security and undermines public trust in asylum policy.”
Key drivers behind Europe’s deportation drive include:
- Security Risks: With no deportation pathway, rejected asylum seekers or criminals linger, fueling fears of radicalization or crime spikes. Germany, for instance, deported 81 Afghans in July 2025 via a Qatar Airways flight, signaling a shift under Chancellor Friedrich Merz’s conservative government.
- Overburdened Systems: Afghans rank as the second-largest asylum seeker group in Germany alone. The letter urges negotiations with the Taliban—despite global non-recognition (except by Russia)—to establish return protocols. Proposals include bolstering Frontex’s role in voluntary returns and prioritizing “dangerous or criminal” individuals for forced repatriation.
- Political Pressure: Elections loom in key nations, and leaders are wary of a 2015-style refugee backlash. The initiative, backed by nations like Austria, Finland, Greece, and Sweden, demands the EU Commission prioritize this at upcoming summits.
This mirrors Pakistan’s approach, where mass deportations have been underway since 2023, targeting undocumented and now even registered Afghans. But Europe’s strategy faces UN backlash, with spokespeople like Ravina Shamdasani citing Afghanistan’s “non-return advisory” due to ongoing human rights violations.
How Pakistan Set the Deportation Precedent:
Pakistan, hosting millions of Afghans for decades amid wars and instability, kicked off large-scale deportations in September 2023, expelling over 1 million undocumented individuals by mid-2025. The “Illegal Foreigners Repatriation Plan” escalated in April 2025, targeting 800,000 Afghan Citizen Card (ACC) holders, with deadlines extended but enforcement ramping up.
- Phased Crackdown: Phase one focused on undocumented migrants; phase two hit registered refugees. By August 2025, even documented Afghans faced deportation, per UNHCR reports, leading to a humanitarian outcry.
- Government Rationale: Islamabad cites national security, blaming Afghan migrants for terrorism links and economic sabotage. With 3.4 million Afghans still in-country amid Afghanistan’s economic collapse and natural disasters, Pakistan argues it can’t sustain the load indefinitely.
Europe’s playbook draws direct inspiration: both emphasize “voluntary” returns first, forced ones for risks, and international coordination. Yet, while Pakistan acts unilaterally, Europe seeks EU-wide mechanisms, potentially negotiating with the Taliban—a risky diplomatic gamble.
Breaking Down the Challenges:
Hosting Afghan refugees isn’t just a humanitarian gesture—it’s a complex web of economic, social, and security dilemmas. Both Pakistan and Europe grapple with similar issues, amplified by Afghanistan’s instability under Taliban rule.
Pakistan’s Refugee Burden: From Hospitality to Hardship
Pakistan has sheltered Afghans through four decades of conflict, but the strain is showing. Key problems include:
- Economic Drain: Supporting 1.4-3 million refugees stretches resources thin. Healthcare, education, and infrastructure buckle under the weight, with reports from UNHCR noting Pakistan’s “admirable” but challenging role. The influx exacerbates poverty in border regions, where refugees compete for jobs and aid.
- Security Threats: The government links Afghan migrants to rising terrorism, with cross-border tensions fueling raids and detentions. Mass deportations have led to abuses like property confiscation and identity document destruction, per human rights groups like Amnesty International.
- Social Friction and Discrimination: Xenophobia runs deep, with Afghans facing hostility, arbitrary arrests, and limited access to services. Climate change and food insecurity in Afghanistan push more arrivals, creating a “resource-curse loop” that breeds resentment.
- Humanitarian Fallout: Deportations have displaced families into a war-torn homeland, with UN experts warning of a “humanitarian emergency” in 2025. Over 900,000 returns since 2023 highlight the scale, but also the risks of refoulement—illegally forcing people back to danger.
Europe’s Afghan Dilemma: Integration Clashes with Political Realities
Europe’s challenges echo Pakistan’s but play out in a more fragmented, rights-focused arena:
- Asylum System Overload: With over 270,000 Afghans needing resettlement globally, EU states resettled just 271 in 2022—a “staggering neglect,” per IRC reports. Pushbacks at borders (e.g., Greece to Turkey) and barriers to fair asylum procedures leave many in limbo.
- Security and Crime Concerns: Failed asylum seekers, including criminals, can’t be deported, eroding public trust. Political leaders fear populist uprisings, especially with Afghans forming large applicant groups in Germany and beyond.
- Human Rights and Health Hurdles: UN and OHCHR document violations in Afghanistan, making returns ethically fraught. Refugees face health issues from trauma and displacement, straining EU healthcare. Internal displacement in Afghanistan (1.3 million by 2024 due to disasters) adds to the influx pressure.
- Political and Social Backlash: Elections amplify anti-migrant sentiments, as seen in 2015. Integration fails when refugees encounter discrimination, language barriers, and limited pathways to safety, leading to tensions in host communities.
Both regions face a common thread: Afghanistan’s crises—war, poverty, climate disasters—drive migration, but host nations prioritize domestic stability over open borders.
Balancing Compassion and Control
As Europe eyes Taliban talks and Pakistan pushes deadlines, the Afghan refugee crisis underscores a global failure. Reforms like better reintegration programs or international burden-sharing could ease the pain, but without stability in Afghanistan, deportations risk fueling more chaos.
