Amnesty International Urges Immediate Halt to Forced Returns of Afghan Refugees

Amnesty International Urges Immediate Halt to Forced Returns of Afghan Refugees
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Amnesty International has called for an immediate suspension of all forced returns of refugees and asylum seekers to Afghanistan, warning that current deportations expose people to serious human rights violations and breach international law. In a report released on December 15, the rights group cited United Nations data showing that more than 2.6 million Afghans were returned to Afghanistan this year from Iran and Pakistan alone, marking the largest wave of returns in the region in recent years. Thousands more were deported by other countries, including Turkey and Tajikistan.

Amnesty International said women and children account for about 60 percent of those returned, a group it described as particularly vulnerable under Taliban rule. The organization said conditions in Afghanistan have continued to deteriorate, with the Taliban intensifying restrictions on women, targeting political opponents, and limiting basic civil freedoms. Against this backdrop, Amnesty argued that sending people back to the country places them at direct risk. Afghanistan is currently facing one of the world’s most severe humanitarian crises, with more than 22 million people in need of urgent assistance, according to international agencies.

The report also raised concerns about discussions in parts of Europe. Amnesty said Germany, Austria, and some European Union officials have held talks with Taliban representatives aimed at facilitating future deportations, a move the organization described as inconsistent with international human rights standards. Smriti Singh, Amnesty International’s regional director for South Asia, said that returning Afghans to a country where rights abuses are widespread, particularly against women and girls, is deeply troubling.

In neighboring Pakistan and Iran, Afghan refugees have reported arbitrary detention, intimidation, and pressure to leave. Amnesty said such practices violate the principle of non-refoulement, which prohibits returning individuals to places where they may face persecution or torture. Amnesty International urged the international community to take urgent action to stop forced returns and ensure that protection of Afghan refugees remains a priority over political considerations.