Pakistan has detained more than 100,000 Afghan nationals so far this year, marking the highest surge in arrests to date as authorities ramp up nationwide crackdowns, the UN refugee agency reported on Friday.

According to UNHCR, 100,971 Afghans were detained between January 1 and mid-November 2025—an unprecedented rise compared with approximately 9,000 arrests in 2024 and more than 26,000 in 2023. The largest concentration of detentions occurred in Balochistan’s Chagai and Quetta districts, as well as Attock district in Punjab.

The agency said 76% of those detained were either Afghan Citizen Card holders or undocumented migrants, while 24% were registered refugees carrying Proof of Registration cards. The spike follows two major government directives issued earlier this year ordering the removal of Afghan migrants from Islamabad and Rawalpindi, and authorising police to detain PoR-card holders.

UNHCR also confirmed a reduction in cash assistance for Afghans living in Pakistan due to declining donor contributions. Aid organisations warn that the cuts have left thousands of vulnerable families struggling to afford food, rent and essential winter supplies.

Pressure on Afghan refugees is mounting across the region. Iran has reported a sharp rise in arrests and deportations of Afghan nationals this year, raising further concern among humanitarian agencies over weakening protection mechanisms.

Humanitarian groups have urged both Pakistan and Iran to ensure that any returns are voluntary and conducted in line with international law. They warn that mass expulsions risk deepening instability along Afghanistan’s borders, where many returnee families arrive without secure housing, employment opportunities or access to basic services.

Russia has offered to mediate between Pakistan and the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan (IEA) to help ease rising border tensions.The proposal was announced by Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova, who said regional stability remains a key priority for Russia and the international community. She urged both sides to show restraint and resolve their disputes through dialogue.

Zakharova noted that Pakistan and the IEA are important partners for Russia, and a mediated process could pave the way for long-term stability. Moscow’s offer follows earlier mediation efforts by Qatar and Turkey, which had led to a temporary ceasefire before recent talks in Istanbul failed to produce tangible results.

Warning that continued tensions threaten broader regional security, Zakharova called on both countries to stay engaged in negotiations and avoid steps that could intensify the situation. Dialogue, she stressed, remains the only sustainable path forward.

Russia’s announcement comes as other regional powers make similar overtures. Iran’s foreign minister recently voiced concern and offered to facilitate talks, while Turkey is preparing to dispatch a high-level delegation to Pakistan for further discussions.

Analysts say Russia’s entry into the mediation efforts could inject new momentum into the stalled process. With multiple international actors now offering support, Pakistan and Afghanistan may have more space to move toward a peaceful resolution.

Saniullah Farhamand, the Islamic Emirate’s ambassador to Turkey, met on Friday with Mehmet Aktaş, Turkey’s Deputy Minister of Interior, to discuss the expansion of relations between Kabul and Ankara.

The Afghan Embassy in Turkey said in a statement that Farhamand and Aktaş, during this meeting, discussed bilateral cooperation in political, cultural, and consular fields, as well as issues related to Afghan migrants residing in Turkey.

Turkey is one of the countries that maintains close relations with the Islamic Emirate. It has also mediated alongside Qatar in efforts to resolve tensions between Kabul and Islamabad, hosting two rounds of negotiations between Afghan and Pakistani delegations.

Meanwhile, analysts consider the increased diplomatic cooperation between Kabul and Ankara important for expanding interactions between the two countries.

This meeting comes at a time when Turkey has recently intensified the detention of Afghan refugees and their transfer back to Afghanistan.

In the latest incident, Turkish media reported that the country’s coast guard detained 24 Afghan refugees, including 15 children, and sent them to a foreign nationals’ return center for transfer to Afghanistan.

The Turkish Coast Guard said these individuals were identified in a dangerous inflatable boat off the coast of Ayvacık as they attempted to travel illegally to Europe.

Recently, Turkey’s Ministry of Interior announced that from January to October of this year, 30,099 Afghan refugees had been identified and detained in various cities across the country.

Turkey has also closed irregular migration routes to Europe and does not permit undocumented migrants to leave through illegal pathways.