Women’s Freedom Movement Demands End to Detention of Afghan Refugees in Pakistan Amid Rising Deportation Fears
The Afghan Women’s Freedom Movement has issued an urgent plea to Pakistan to cease the detention of Afghan refugees, particularly women, children, and activists, amid escalating fears of deportation to Taliban-ruled Afghanistan, Khaama Press reported. In a statement released on May 12, 2025, the group highlighted the dire conditions faced by refugees who fled Taliban persecution, only to face arrest and abuse in Pakistan.
Pakistan currently hosts over 1.3 million registered Afghan refugees, with estimates of unregistered individuals pushing the total closer to 3 million. Since the Taliban’s 2021 takeover, Pakistan has intensified crackdowns, citing security concerns and economic strain. In 2024 alone, over 600,000 Afghans were forcibly repatriated, according to the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR). The Women’s Freedom Movement warns that deportations expose returnees to Taliban reprisals, including gender-based violence and arbitrary detention.
The movement’s demands align with broader international criticism. Human Rights Watch recently condemned Pakistan’s actions as violations of non-refoulement principles, which prohibit returning refugees to life-threatening conditions. Meanwhile, the UN reports global displacement has reached a record 83.4 million, with Afghans comprising the second-largest refugee group after Syrians.
Parallel developments underscore the crisis’s urgency. On May 14, the Taliban expressed willingness to negotiate with the U.S. on refugee returns following the termination of Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for Afghans in America. Simultaneously, protests erupted in Iowa against similar U.S. policy shifts, reflecting global tensions over refugee protections.
The Women’s Freedom Movement has called for immediate visa extensions and humanitarian intervention, stressing that silence equates to complicity. “These refugees fled Taliban brutality—they must not be forced back into it,” the statement emphasized. Advocates urge the international community to pressure Pakistan and accelerate resettlement programs, as safe third-country options dwindle.
