Thousands of Afghan Migrants Face Repatriation Despite Calls for Halting Deportations

Nearly 12,000 Afghan migrants have been repatriated by Pakistan and Iran in the past four days, while Pakistan prepares to deport over 800,000 Afghan refugees in the coming weeks. Amid mounting criticism from rights groups like Amnesty International, the Pakistani government remains resolute in its decision to send undocumented Afghan refugees back to their homeland.

According to the Taliban-run Ministry of Refugees, 1,352 Afghan migrants have returned from Pakistan, and 10,645 from Iran, with specific details on the various entry points. Hundreds crossed back through the Torkham and Spin Boldak crossings, while thousands re-entered Afghanistan via the Islam Qala and Pul-e Abrisham borders. This mass deportation comes as part of Pakistan’s ‘Illegal Foreigners’ Repatriation Plan, which aims to remove a significant number of Afghan refugees from the country.

The move has sparked outrage from Amnesty International, with Campaigner James Jennion condemning Pakistan’s actions as a violation of refugee and international human rights law. The decision to expand deportations to Afghan Citizen Card (ACC) holders has raised concerns about the safety and well-being of Afghan refugees, particularly women, girls, journalists, and human rights defenders.

Amnesty International’s repeated calls for the Pakistani authorities to halt the deportations have fallen on deaf ears, as the government proceeds with its plans to remove Afghan refugees, citing security concerns and economic struggles. The lack of transparency and due process in the deportations has drawn criticism from human rights organizations.

With the second phase of the ‘repatriation plan’ set to commence, more than 800,000 Afghans are at risk of being expelled from Pakistan. The government’s crackdown on undocumented refugees has been justified by security reasons, despite appeals for a more compassionate approach towards those in need of international protection.

As tensions escalate, the fate of hundreds of thousands of Afghan refugees hangs in the balance. Amid the ongoing crisis, rights groups continue to advocate for the protection of refugees and urge the Pakistani government to reconsider its deportation policies to prevent further harm to vulnerable populations fleeing persecution in Afghanistan.

Most deported refugees have to face serious challenges back home, including food security, unemployment, lack of accommodation and more. The Taliban has been accused of not doing enough to cater for the basic needs of these unfortunate Afghans returning to a country already plagued by terrorism and economic depression.