UN experts urge Pakistan to halt deportations of vulnerable Afghan refugees
UN experts urge Pakistan to halt deportations of vulnerable Afghan refugees
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UN human rights experts have urged Pakistan to stop the forced return of Afghan nationals at risk of persecution and abuse, calling for a transparent mechanism to assess each person’s situation before deportation.
In a statement issued on September 18, the experts expressed concern over reports of forced returns and called for the suspension of deportations until individual cases are reviewed. They stressed that people facing serious risks, including torture or other irreversible harm, should have access to protection procedures without fear of detention or removal.
The experts also raised concerns about Afghan medical students in Pakistan, warning that directives affecting their enrollment in medical and dental institutions could disrupt the education of dozens of students, including women.
According to information received by the UN experts, more than 127,000 Afghans returned from Pakistan to Afghanistan between July 10 and August 27, 2026. They said at least 14,000 of those returns were reportedly forced, while women and children accounted for more than 38,000 of the returnees.
The UN officials highlighted particular concerns for women and girls, unaccompanied children, journalists, human rights defenders, former security personnel, and members of vulnerable religious or ethnic communities.
Pakistan’s government has said its repatriation program targets undocumented foreign nationals and that humanitarian considerations are taken into account. Islamabad has also stated that thousands of Afghans have received assistance for resettlement in third countries.
The UN experts called on Pakistan to respect the principle of non-refoulement, which prohibits returning individuals to places where they face serious risks of persecution or inhumane treatment.
