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Thousands of Afghan refugees are returning to Afghanistan from Pakistan in an attempt to avoid deportation after the Pakistani government set a deadline for undocumented migrants to leave. The United Nations has warned that this decision could lead to severe human rights violations. As of November 2, more than 165,000 Afghans have fled Pakistan since the government’s order was issued. Among the migrants are over 1 million Afghan nationals who fled following the Taliban’s seizure of power in Kabul in August 2021.
The majority of refugees have rushed to the border in recent days, as the November 1 deadline approached. Police have opened dozens of centers to detain arrested Afghans before deporting them. On the Afghan side of the border, the Taliban has opened temporary transit camps to assist those returning. On November 2, over 100 people were detained in Karachi, and 425 Afghans were rounded up in Quetta. These actions have sparked concerns about potential human rights violations.
Islamabad claims that the deportations are necessary to protect its “welfare and security” following an increase in attacks that the government blames on militants operating from Afghanistan. However, Afghanistan’s Taliban-run administration has dismissed Pakistan’s accusations against Afghan migrants. They have also requested that countries hosting Afghan refugees give them more time to prepare for repatriation. The move by Pakistan is expected to further strain relations between the two neighboring countries.
Calls from the United Nations, rights groups, and Western governments to reconsider the decision have been brushed off by Pakistan. These organizations have urged Pakistan to incorporate a plan to identify and protect Afghans facing the risk of persecution by the ruling militants. Pakistan has remained firm in its decision.
Pakistan hosts more than 4 million Afghan migrants and refugees, with approximately 1.7 million of them undocumented. Some of them have lived in Pakistan their entire lives. Since the Taliban’s rise to power and their implementation of strict Islamic law, about 600,000 Afghans have crossed into Pakistan, joining the large number of Afghans who have sought refuge in the country since the Soviet invasion in 1979. The forced deportation of Afghan nationals who have never been to Afghanistan has raised concerns about their ability to start a new life there.
Pakistan’s move to remove undocumented foreigners is seen as part of an anti-immigrant crackdown that has faced criticism from human rights groups. The Human Rights Commission of Pakistan and other organizations have appealed to the Supreme Court to halt the forced deportation. Meanwhile, Human Rights Watch has condemned Pakistan’s deadline, stating that it has led to threats and abuse against Afghans in the country.
Since the Taliban’s return to power, they have imposed strict restrictions on women and girls, including bans on education and employment in most sectors. These restrictions have further fueled concerns about the plight of Afghan refugees returning to the country.
The situation remains critical as thousands of Afghans continue to flood back from Pakistan. It is uncertain how this mass influx will impact both Afghanistan and Pakistan in the long run.
