Afghanistan Times
Related Articles
UN experts have sounded the alarm over Pakistan’s decision to begin deporting millions of Afghans from 1 September, warning of catastrophic humanitarian consequences. They said returnees would face life-threatening risks in a country already overwhelmed by displacement and widespread human rights violations.
Many of those targeted for expulsion have lived in Pakistan for decades, with some born there who have never set foot in Afghanistan. Others fled in recent years to escape persecution and reprisals. Refugee communities have already reported a surge in arrests, detentions, and forced removals in recent weeks.
The experts stressed that Pakistan is bound under international law not to return people to places where their lives or freedoms are at risk, calling the principle of non-refoulement “non-negotiable.” They warned that women and girls, deprived of education and work, as well as former officials, ex-security forces, and LGBTQ+ Afghans, face particular danger if expelled.
The UN urged Pakistan to halt the deportations immediately and appealed to the international community to take greater responsibility. They criticized Western governments for scaling back resettlement programs, leaving Pakistan and Afghan refugees without meaningful support.
