ISLAMABAD – Pakistan has begun deporting registered Afghan refugees, weeks ahead of its official September 1 deadline, drawing criticism from the United Nations which says the action violates international refugee protections.
The UNHCR confirmed it has received multiple reports of arrests and forced deportations of legally documented Afghan nationals across Pakistan, despite previous assurances that formal expulsions would only begin after September.
“Such actions breach Pakistan’s international commitments,” said a statement from the UN refugee agency. “We urge the government to halt forced returns and instead adopt a voluntary, dignified, and phased repatriation process.”
According to the UNHCR, hundreds of legally registered Afghan refugees were already detained and deported between August 1 and August 4, a claim made by spokesperson Qaisar Khan Afridi.
An interior ministry directive seen by Reuters had stated that voluntary returns would begin immediately, but the actual deportation process would formally commence after September 1. The ministry has not yet responded to questions regarding the early expulsions.
Currently, over 1.3 million Afghans hold Proof of Registration (PoR) cards, while 750,000 more possess Afghan Citizen Cards (ACC)—both of which provide them legal status inside Pakistan.
Many of these refugees have been living in Pakistan since the 1980s, having fled decades of conflict in Afghanistan. Rights groups and humanitarian agencies warn that an abrupt and large-scale deportation could endanger lives and worsen instability in the region.
“Sending people back in haste and without preparation not only threatens their safety but could contribute to regional instability,” said the UNHCR.
Pakistan launched the Illegal Foreigners Repatriation Plan in late 2023, vowing to remove all undocumented migrants, including Afghans, unless they possess valid visas. Islamabad has also repeatedly blamed Afghan nationals for crimes and militant activities—a claim Kabul denies.
The deportations come amid a broader crisis, as Iran is also carrying out mass expulsions of Afghans, putting further strain on Afghanistan’s fragile economy and humanitarian infrastructure.
