Afghanistan Times
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KABUL – Pakistan has intensified its crackdown on Afghan refugees, forcibly deporting thousands—including those with valid legal status—under a campaign that has drawn strong condemnation from international rights groups. Since April 1, more than 80,000 Afghans have been expelled, many of them women, children, and individuals holding Afghan Citizen Cards (ACC) or Proof of Registration (PoR) documents that were previously accepted by Pakistan as legal protections.
Human rights organizations, including Amnesty International and the UNHCR, have condemned the actions as violations of international law, warning that many returnees face serious threats under Taliban rule, including persecution, poverty, and lack of basic services. The situation is especially dire for around 20,000 Afghans approved for relocation to the U.S. who remain stranded due to processing delays and now risk being forcibly sent back. Despite the legal status of many affected individuals, Pakistani authorities argue the removals are part of a broader security-driven campaign targeting undocumented foreigners, with Afghans making up the vast majority. The Taliban government has officially protested the deportations and urged Pakistan to allow returnees to recover personal property and assets left behind. Meanwhile, rights groups continue to call for an immediate halt to the expulsions and a commitment to due process and humanitarian protections for vulnerable Afghan refugees.
