KABUL, AFGHANISTAN – Amnesty International has renewed its call on the Pakistani government to stop the “unlawful” detention, harassment, and deportation of Afghan refugees and asylum seekers, warning that Afghanistan remains unsafe for return, particularly for vulnerable groups.
In an open letter to Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, Amnesty Secretary General Agnes Callamard expressed concern over the ongoing detention, harassment, and mass deportation of Afghans from Pakistan. She urged authorities to ensure that individuals with international protection needs are safeguarded as per international human rights law.
“Pakistani authorities must ensure that the rights of Afghan refugees are protected, particularly protection from arbitrary detention and eviction from refugee camps and their accommodations,” the letter said.
Citing the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), Amnesty noted that around 110,000 refugees and asylum seekers in Pakistan face serious risks and require international protection. Amnesty also highlighted the heightened vulnerability of women, journalists, and human rights activists if forcibly returned to Afghanistan, given the Taliban’s restrictions and reported abuses against these groups.
Amnesty warned that forced returns violate the principle of “non-refoulement,” which forbids sending refugees to countries where they face serious threats to life or freedom.
Pakistan has hosted Afghan refugees for over 40 years, sheltering millions who fled conflict and political upheaval. However, since the launch of the “Illegal Foreigners Repatriation Plan” in September 2023, Islamabad has intensified efforts to repatriate undocumented Afghans, including some with legal refugee status.
According to the International Organization for Migration (IOM), 1,495,851 Afghan refugees have returned to Afghanistan since the deportation campaign began, with nearly half, 778,739, returning in 2025.
Similar deportation drives are underway in neighboring Iran. IOM figures show that over four million Afghans have been deported or forced to return from Pakistan and Iran since September 2023, including more than 2.6 million in 2025. On Thursday, Taliban authorities reported that more than 3,300 Afghan refugees were returned from both countries.
Rights groups, UN agencies, and activists have repeatedly urged Pakistan and Iran to halt deportations, warning that Afghanistan under Taliban rule remains unsafe. They emphasize that returning refugees—particularly women, children, journalists, and former government employees—face severe risks to their safety and basic rights.