Switzerland Faces Backlash Over Plan to Deport Pashtun Asylum Seekers to Afghanistan

Switzerland’s proposal to deport Pashtun asylum seekers to Afghanistan has drawn sharp criticism from human rights groups and activists, Khaama Press reported. The State Secretariat for Migration (SEM) argues that Pashtuns, sharing ethnic ties with the Taliban, may face lower risks upon return. However, critics condemn the policy as discriminatory, noting that many Pashtuns have fled Taliban persecution.

The SEM cites improved security in Afghanistan since 2021, but organizations like the UN dispute this, highlighting ongoing violence and economic collapse. Afghan communities in Switzerland and international watchdogs urge case-by-case assessments instead of ethnic profiling.

Swiss officials clarified that deportations would occur only in “particularly favorable” individual cases, maintaining a general pause on returns to Afghanistan.