Pakistan to Initiate Third Phase of Forced Deportations of Afghan Refugees

Pakistan to Initiate Third Phase of Forced Deportations of Afghan Refugees
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Pakistan is set to begin the third phase of forced deportations of Afghan refugees next week, raising significant humanitarian concerns, Khaama Press reported. The Ministry of Interior has set a June 30 deadline for all Afghan refugees registered with the UNHCR and holders of Proof of Registration (PoR) cards to leave voluntarily.

Since March 2025, Pakistan has expelled over 102,000 Afghan refugees, mainly undocumented individuals and Afghan Citizen Cards (ACC) holders, as part of its ongoing deportation campaign. The first two phases coincided with Pakistan’s counter-terrorism negotiations with the Taliban.

Amnesty International has urged Pakistan to halt the deportations, warning that around 1.4 million Afghan refugees with UN-issued registration cards face forced removal after June. The organization called on Pakistan to respect refugee rights and extend PoR card validity.

Rights activists warn of severe humanitarian consequences, emphasizing the insecurity and poverty refugees face in Afghanistan. Reports suggest that over one million refugees could be deported in this latest phase, exacerbating an already dire humanitarian crisis. International agencies continue to call for cooperative solutions and legal protections for vulnerable Afghan refugees.