Pakistan Defends Afghan Refugee Deportations Despite International Criticism

Pakistan Defends Afghan Refugee Deportations Despite International Criticism
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Pakistan has reaffirmed its decision to proceed with the deportation of undocumented Afghan refugees, despite mounting pressure from international organizations. Foreign Ministry spokesperson Shafqat Ali Khan told reporters in Islamabad that those without valid documents must leave the country, stressing that Pakistan has the sovereign right to determine who may reside within its borders. He noted that other states would act similarly under comparable circumstances.

The announcement comes as Afghanistan struggles with dire humanitarian conditions following a powerful earthquake that killed more than 2,200 people and destroyed entire villages. The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) has urged Islamabad to suspend deportations, warning of severe risks for Afghans returning under current conditions.

Pakistan has hosted Afghan refugees for over four decades, with many born and raised there. Yet authorities launched a mass repatriation campaign in 2023, citing rising militant attacks. Since then, more than 1.2 million Afghans have returned, including 443,000 this year alone.
Khan also called on Germany to honor its commitments to resettle Afghan refugees and emphasized Pakistan’s concerns over “safe havens” for militant groups in Afghanistan.