US Plans to Deport Over 150 Afghans Through Pakistan

The Trump administration's plan would send Afghan immigrants from Louisiana to Pakistan, where they are expected to be expelled across the border into Afghanistan, NYT World News reported on October 30.

Many of those affected fled Afghanistan after the Taliban took control in 2021, according to Arab News. Advocacy groups fear that returning them could expose them to persecution.

On October 30, Times now reported plans to deport more than 150 Afghans, citing reporting based on three US officials. Dozens of Afghan immigrants were being detained in Louisiana.

On October 31, a senior administration official confirmed preparations for a flight to Pakistan carrying Afghan immigrants and asylum seekers, NBC News reported. It described the planned flight as the first of its kind.

The same day, advocates told ABCNews.com that those scheduled for removal could include relatives of people who worked alongside US forces. They expected deportations early the following week, but the relatives' inclusion remained uncertain.

The first flight could leave as early as November 2, according to News18. Its report described Pakistan as a transit point before detainees would be sent across the border into Afghanistan.

On November 2, Afghanistan's Taliban government expressed serious concern over the reported plan to remove more than 150 Afghans through Pakistan, according to AP coverage. Advocacy groups continued to warn that the removals could endanger those affected.

The supplied coverage describes a planned removal, not a confirmed departure. November 2 was reported as the earliest possible flight date by News18, while the latest AP coverage still referred to reported plans.

Reports differ in how they describe the scale: NYT World News and NBC News refer to dozens, while Times now and AP coverage describe more than 150. The supplied coverage does not establish whether those figures refer to the same flight or the wider group facing removal.

The immediate questions are whether the flight departs, how many people it carries and whether Pakistan subsequently sends them into Afghanistan. The route described by NYT World News makes that onward transfer central to the plan.

The identities and circumstances of those selected also remain important. ABCNews.com reported that relatives of people who supported US forces may be included, but the supplied coverage does not confirm who is on the flight.