ISLAMABAD — A prominent human rights organization has raised alarm over the increased pressure exerted by Pakistani authorities on Afghan refugees urging them to return to Afghanistan, where they face potential threats from the Taliban and severe economic challenges.
A representative from Human Rights Watch (HRW), Elaine Pearson, has called on Pakistani officials to halt the forced repatriation of Afghans while allowing those facing expulsion a chance to seek asylum. Additionally, Pearson urged the ruling Taliban in Afghanistan to cease any hostile actions against returning Afghans and to amend their oppressive policies towards women and girls.
Pakistan has issued a deadline for March 31 for the expulsion of all illegals, many of whom are Afghans. This announcement followed claims made by the Afghan Embassy in Islamabad that Pakistani authorities had increased arrests of Afghan nationals in the capital and adjacent Rawalpindi with the aim of forced deportation. However, Pakistan refuted these accusations, maintaining that it is working to ensure a favorable environment for Afghans’ return to their homeland.
About 500,000 Afghans, having fled the Taliban’s 2021 takeover, remain undocumented in Pakistan. Numerous Afghans are in queue for resettlement in the United States and other countries. Among them, approximately 1.45 million are registered with the U.N. refugee agency, many having escaped the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan during the 1980s. Pakistan, last July, had extended the stay of these registered refugees, ensuring they will not face arrest or deportation until the deadline expires in June.
The cessation of U.S. refugee programs earlier this year has placed around 20,000 Afghans in Pakistan in uncertainty, hoping for President Trump’s intervention to recommence the programs and provide an end to their plight.
According to HRW, human rights concerns in Afghanistan have worsened since the Taliban’s return to power in August 2021. The organization highlights that restrictions especially target women and girls, erasing their access to education and various freedoms, while endangering human rights activists, journalists, and ex-government workers.
Returning Afghans face difficult circumstances due to Afghanistan’s escalating unemployment, healthcare deficits, and declining international support. Earlier directives by Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif confirm the March 31 deportation deadline for Afghans awaiting relocation, expressing urgency for third-party countries to process outstanding cases expediently.
The Interior Ministry of Pakistan has announced repercussions for Afghans in Islamabad and Rawalpindi without proper documentation and emphasized that those with Afghan Citizen Cards must depart to avoid being deported. Proof of Registration (PoR) cardholders have until June 30 to comply.
An estimated 800,000 Afghans have either returned or been forcibly removed from Pakistan since 2023, with a notable portion comprising women and children who, upon return, face educational restrictions. HRW further asserts that Pakistani law enforcement has engaged in house raids, unlawful detention, and coercion for bribes upon seizing refugee documents.
