Afghan Women and Girls Face Alarming Detention and Deportation in Pakistan
A recent surge in the detention and forced deportation of Afghan women and girls from Pakistan has drawn strong condemnation from human rights organizations, highlighting a deepening humanitarian crisis.
Footage released by Afghanistan International shows distressing scenes of Pakistani police detaining Afghan women and minors, with one young girl pleading for her family’s release before being forcibly taken into a police vehicle.
The Refugee Rights division of Human Rights Watch (HRW) has described the footage as “shocking and deeply distressing,” expressing grave concern over the treatment of Afghan women and children. HRW warns that forced deportations severely threaten their safety and dignity, especially given the dire human rights situation in Afghanistan under the Taliban, where women and girls face severe restrictions on education, employment, and public life.
Thousands of Afghan refugees in Pakistan are reportedly living under immense pressure, with ongoing detentions disrupting resettlement processes for those eligible for relocation to third countries. Human Rights Watch has urged international bodies like the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) and the International Organization for Migration (IOM), along with countries such as the United States, Canada, Germany, France, and Australia, to take immediate action to protect these vulnerable refugees. They emphasize that refugees are not criminals and deserve support, not punishment.
The increase in arrests and deportations coincides with the suspension of the Afghan visa renewal process in Pakistan, leaving many without legal status and in constant fear. The UN has also warned of “serious abuses” against Afghans forced to return, including torture, threats, and arbitrary arrests by de facto Taliban authorities. Since 2023, millions of Afghans have returned from Pakistan and Iran, exacerbating an already severe humanitarian crisis within Afghanistan. International organizations are urging states to expand resettlement opportunities for at-risk Afghans, prioritizing women and girls, former government affiliates, and media workers who face significant risks upon return.
