KABUL, AFGHANISTAN – Amnesty International has called on the Pakistani government to immediately cancel its “Illegal Foreigners Repatriation Plan” and align its actions with international human rights laws.
In a statement released Wednesday, the global rights group condemned Pakistan’s plan, warning it could lead to the “arbitrary” and “forced” deportation of Afghan refugees, worsening their plight.
“Pakistani authorities are violating the rights of Afghan refugees with impunity, making arbitrary decisions that lack transparency and accountability,” Amnesty’s Deputy Director for South Asia, Isabel Lasi, said. She described the deportation plan as “brazen” and warned that it would undo years of work Afghan refugees have invested in rebuilding their lives in Pakistan.
“We call on the authorities to immediately withdraw the ‘Illegal Foreigners Repatriation Plan’ and take corrective action in line with international human rights law,” Lasi added.
Amnesty International also urged Pakistani officials to stop portraying Afghan refugees as a security threat to cities like Islamabad and Rawalpindi, where crackdowns have intensified in recent months. Reports have emerged of Pakistani police raiding refugee homes, arresting and deporting Afghan nationals — including those with valid legal documentation.
The Pakistani government launched a major crackdown in November 2023, targeting foreign nationals without legal status, citing national security concerns amid a surge in violence. The operation has primarily impacted around 1.7 million Afghan refugees and asylum seekers who lack legal documentation.
According to the International Organization for Migration (IOM), Pakistan has deported at least 844,499 Afghan nationals since the operation began, sending them back to Afghanistan, where they face threats of Taliban persecution and severe economic instability.
The next wave of deportations is expected by March 31, targeting Afghans holding Afghan Citizen Cards (ACC), temporary documents issued to unregistered refugees. A second deadline on June 30 affects an estimated 1.3 million refugees holding Proof of Registration (PoR) cards, which are jointly issued by the Pakistani government and the UN refugee agency (UNHCR).
Pakistan has hosted Afghan refugees for decades, offering shelter to millions fleeing conflict and hardship. After the Taliban’s return to power in August 2021, more than 600,000 additional Afghans — including journalists, civil society members, and former government employees — crossed into Pakistan fearing retaliation.
Human Rights Watch (HRW) has also spoken out against Pakistan’s deportation campaign, warning that it could violate international law, particularly the principle of non-refoulement, which prohibits returning individuals to places where they may face harm.
HRW called on refugee-hosting nations, including the US, UK, Canada, Germany, and Australia, to accelerate resettlement programs for vulnerable Afghans and reaffirm that Afghanistan remains unsafe for returns.
