Amnesty International: Deportation of Afghan Refugees from Pakistan Is a Violation of Human Rights

The organization stated that many of these individuals are refugees and holders of Afghan citizenship cards who, if returned, would face serious threats including gender-based violence, arbitrary detention, torture, and extrajudicial killings.

Amnesty International has urged the government of Pakistan to immediately suspend the deportation policy and review it in accordance with international human rights obligations.

Babu Ram Pant, Deputy Regional Director for South Asia at Amnesty International, said: "Afghans who fled to Pakistan after the Taliban takeover are now at serious risk. This group includes women and girls, journalists, human rights activists, female protesters, artists, and former officials who escaped Taliban persecution."

He added: "Pakistan must immediately reverse its decision to deport Afghan refugees and take corrective actions in line with international human rights law."

Amnesty International warned that continuing this policy not only violates human rights, but could also further aggravate the existing humanitarian crisis in the region.

This comes after the Pakistani government announced in September 2023 that it would begin the gradual deportation of Afghan nationals under the "Illegal Foreigners Repatriation Plan" — a move that has caused widespread concern among Afghan residents in Pakistan.