Human Rights Concerns as Pakistan Increases Pressure on Afghan Refugees
Human Rights Watch reports that Pakistan is intensifying pressure on Afghan refugees to return to Afghanistan, where they face Taliban persecution and poor economic conditions. Officials have set a deadline for deportation while dismissing allegations of forced expulsion. The situation for Afghans in Pakistan remains precarious amid ongoing human rights violations.
A prominent rights organization has reported that Pakistani authorities are increasing pressure on Afghan refugees to return to Afghanistan, where they face the risk of Taliban persecution and dire economic circumstances. Elaine Pearson, Asia director at Human Rights Watch (HRW), urged Pakistani officials to cease coercing Afghans into returning and to allow those facing expulsion an opportunity to seek protection.
The situation is urgent as Pakistan has set a deadline of March 31 for the deportation of all foreigners, predominantly Afghan nationals, residing illegally in the country. A statement from the Afghan Embassy in Islamabad noted that arrests of Afghan citizens for forced expulsion have been escalating.
Pakistan, however, has refuted the claims, asserting that its efforts are aimed at facilitating voluntary returns to Afghanistan. More than 500,000 Afghans have been living unlawfully in Pakistan since the Taliban’s takeover in 2021, with many awaiting resettlement in the United States and other countries. Approximately 1.45 million additional Afghan refugees are registered with the United Nations refugee agency.
In July, Pakistan extended the stay of registered refugees until June, ensuring that they would not be arrested or deported before that date. However, a pause in U.S. refugee programs since January has left about 20,000 Afghans in limbo, prompting calls for the resumption of the program to alleviate their plight. HRW asserts that conditions in Afghanistan remain dire, particularly for women and girls, who have been stripped of numerous rights since the Taliban’s resurgence.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif approved the deportation deadline earlier this year for Afghans awaiting relocation, indicating that without a swift processing of their cases, they would face removal. HRW emphasizes that any forced returns to Afghanistan are unsafe given the worsening situation.
Additionally, Pakistan’s Interior Ministry has mandated that Afghans without proper residence documents must exit major cities or face deportation. Reports claim that police routinely enforce these measures through raids, violence, and unlawful detention. The International Organization for Migration indicates that over 800,000 Afghans have returned or been forcibly expelled from Pakistan since 2023, with a significant percentage being women and children.
In conclusion, the increasing pressure from Pakistan on Afghan refugees to return home poses significant risks, as many face persecution and dire living conditions in Afghanistan. Human Rights Watch has strongly called for an end to coercive practices by Pakistani authorities and urged international intervention to expedite refugee resettlement processes. The deteriorating human rights situation in Afghanistan necessitates immediate action to protect these vulnerable individuals from further hardship and trauma.
Original Source: abcnews.go.com
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